G B 

705 

•A*Hd 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 



Wateb-Supply Paper 218 



WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS IN 
ALASKA, 1906-1907 



NOME AND KOUGAROK REGIONS, SEWARD 

PENINSULA; FAIRBANKS DISTRICT, 

YUKON-TANANA REGION 



BT 



FRED F. HENSHAW and C. C. COVERT 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
1908 




Book 'rjitl 5 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
i 

GEORGE OTIS SMITH, Director 



Water-Supply Paper 218 



WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS IN 
ALASKA, 1906-1907 






NOME AND KOUGAROK REGIONS, SEWARD 

PENINSULA; FAIRBANKS DISTRICT, 

YUKON-TANANA REGION 



BY 



FRED F. HENSHAW and C. C. COVERT 




WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1908 



°i/ 



D, Of D. 
MA> 25 1908 



<* 






\A S 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Introduction 7 

Scope of work - 7 

Cooperation- 8 

Explanation of data and methods. .- 9 

The Nome region, by Fred F. Henshaw. 13 

Description of area 13 

Conditions affecting water supply 15 

Gaging stations : 18 

Nome River drainage basin 18 

General description 18 

Nome River above Miocene intake 19 

Nome River at Pioneer intake and Pioneer ditch 21 

Buffalo Creek 22 

, David Creek 22 

Dorothy Creek 23 

Hobson Creek 23 

The Miocene ditch system 24 

General description. 24 

Jett Creek ditch. 30 

Grand Central ditch 31 

David Creek ditch 32 

Seepage measurements on Miocene ditch 33 

Miscellaneous measurements 35 

Campion ditch at Black Point 35 

Seward ditch , 36 

Pioneer ditch 37 

Grand Central River drainage basin 38 

General description 38 

North Fork of Grand Central River 38 

West Fork of Grand Central River 41 

Crater Lake outlet 44 

Grand Central River below the forks 46 

Grand Central River below Nugget Creek 47 

Gold Run 48 

Thompson Creek 49 

Nugget and Copper creeks 49 

Jett Creek 50 

Morning Call Creek 51 

Storage possibilities 52 

Salmon Lake 53 

Kruzgamepa River drainage basin below Salmon Lake 54 

General description 54 

Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake 55 

Crater Creek „ 57 

Iron Creek 57 

Miscellaneous measurements 59 

Imuruk Basin drainage 59 

3 



4 CONTENTS. 

The Nome region — Continued. Page 

Sinuk River drainage basin 60 

General description 60 

Upper Sinuk River 60 

Windy Creek 61 

North Star Creek 62 

Stewart River 63 

Slate Creek 63 

Other Sinuk River drainage 64 

Cripple River drainage basin 64 

General description 64 

Cedric ditch 64 

General description 64 

Cedric ditch above penstock 65 

Penny River drainage basin 66 

General description 66 

Penny River at Sutton intake and Sutton ditch 66 

Snake River drainage basin 68 

General description 68 

Snake River above Glacier Creek 68 

Flambeau and Eldorado River drainage basins 69 

Solomon River drainage basin f 69 

Flow of ditches in Nome region 70 

Available water supply during 1906 and 1907 70 

Ditch and pipe lines 72 

Water-power possibilities. 76 

The Kougarok region, by Fred F. Henshaw 77 

Introduction 77 

Description of area 77 

Conditions affecting water supply 78 

Gaging stations 79 

Kougarok River drainage basin 79 

Description of basin 79 

Kougarok River below Washington Creek 80 

Kougarok River at Homestake intake and Homestake ditch 80 

Kougarok River above Taylor Creek 82 

• Kougarok River above Coarse Gold Creek 82 

Irving ditch 83 

Homestake ditch 83 

Taylor Creek at North Star intake 84 

Taylor Creek at Cascade intake 85 

Taylor Creek at mouth 86 

North Star ditch above siphon 86 

Cascade ditch 87 

Henry Creek 88 

Coarse Gold Creek 88 

North Fork 89 

Miscellaneous measurements 90 

Total water supply in 1907 90 

Noxapaga River drainage basin 91 

Serpentine River drainage basin 92 

Schlitz and Reindeer creeks 92 

Bryan and Dick creeks 92 

Quartz and Bismarck creeks 93 

American. River drainage basin 93 



CONTENTS. 5 

The Kougarok region — Continued. Page. 

Hydraulic developments - => 94 

Relative run-off of different areas 95 

The Fairhaven precinct, by Fred F. Henshaw . . 99 

Introduction 99 

Fairhaven ditch 99 

Candle ditch 100 

Bear Creek ditch 100 

The Fairbanks district, by C. C. Covert 101 

Description of area 101 

Conditions affecting water supply 103 

Gaging stations 106 

Little Chena River drainage basin 106 

General description 106 

Chena Slough at Fairbanks 108 

Little Chena River above mouth of Elliott Creek 109 

Elliott Creek above mouth of Sorrels Creek 110 

Sorrels Creek 110 

Fish Creek above mouth of Fairbanks Creek Ill 

Bear Creek 112 

Fairbanks Creek 112 

Miller Creek 113 

Chatanika River drainage basin 114 

General description . . . ' , . 114 

Faith Creek I 115 

McManus Creek 116 

Chatanika River near junction of Faith and McManus creeks. 117 

Boston Creek 118 

McKay Creek 119 

Belle Creek 119 

Crooked Creek 119 

Kokomo Creek • , 119 

Poker Creek 120 

Chatanika River below mouth of Poker Creek 121 

Cleary Creek 122 

Little Eldorado Creek 122 

Dome Creek 122 

Goldstream Creek drainage basin 123 

General description v 123 

Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below 124 

Fox Creek 125 

Beaver Creek drainage basin 125 

General description 125 

Measurements 127 

Comparative run-off of different areas 128 

Development of water supply in the Fairbanks district 129 

General conditions 129 

Ditch lines 130 

Water-power development 131 

Storage 131 

Meteorological records, by Fred F. Henshaw and C. C. Covert 133 

Introduction 133 

Seward Peninsula 134 

Fairbanks district : 139 

Summary of records since 1902 142 

Index : 151 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



/ Page. 

Plate I. A, Price current meters; B, Measuring Grand Central River 10 

II. V Typical topography, Seward Peninsula 14 

III. 1 ' A, Tundra between beach and foothills; B, Miocene ditch, Glacier 

Creek 16 

IV. Map showing location of gaging stations in Nome region 18 

V^ Rock cut around.Cape Horn on Miocene ditch 24 

VI. A, Upper Grand Central River drainage; B, Mount Osborn, July, 1906 38 
VII." Map showing location of gaging stations and ditches in Kougarok 

region 78 

VIII. V A, Intake of Homestake ditch on Kougarok River; B, Homestake 

ditch, showing sod work 80 

IX.' Map showing location of gaging stations in Fairbanks district 106 

X: Mining operations on Cleary Creek 122 

XI! A, Lower Cleary Creek; B, Gaging station on Fish Creek 124 

XII. Map of Alaska, showing location of rainfall stations 142 

Fig. 1. Diagram showing flow of Nome River above Miocene intake and 

Grand Central River below the forks, 1906 17 

2. Diagram showing flow of Chatanika River and total of Little Chena 

River and its tributaries, 1907 . 105 

6 



WATER-SUPPLY INVESTIGATIONS IN 
ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



By Fred F. Henshaw and C. C. Covert. 



INTRODUCTION. 

SCOPE OF WORK. \ 

For a number of years the United States Geological Survey has 
made systematic measurements and studies of the water supply as one 
of the great resources of the country. These data are now available 
for all the more important streams in the United States and are 
extensively used by engineers and others in problems involving 
water power, city water supply, irrigation, and manufacturing. 

The development of the important placer-mining fields of Alaska, 
notably those of Seward Peninsula and the Yukon-Tanana region, is 
intimately associated with the successful utilization of their water 
supplies. A knowledge of the amount of water available in the 
streams would have prevented most of the failures that have been 
made in the past, and will be invaluable in connection with future 
developments. 

There is a great tendency in Alaska to push forward the construction 
of ditches without first making sure of the primary requisite of their 
successful operation — an adequate water supply. The results of such 
a policy were forcibly shown during last summer in Seward Peninsula, 
in some parts of which a severe drought caused much loss and incon- 
venience to mining operators. These conditions are apt to occur in 
any portion of Alaska, and too much stress can not be laid on the 
importance of stream-flow data. The low-water period lasts only a 
part of the season and the water supply is usually sufficient at other 
times, but in view of the other unfavorable conditions — the shortness 
of the season, the frozen ground, the distance from base of supplies and 
consequent high cost of transportation — a reduction of even two or 
three weeks in the working season may mean the difference between 
profit and loss. The cost of the useless machinery and ditches which 
can be seen in some parts of Alaska amounts to hundreds of thousands 

7 • 



8 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-190*7. 

of dollars, and most of this could have been saved by a preliminary 
investigation of conditions by a competent engineer. 

Hydraulic developments have been carried farthest in the Nome 
region of Seward Peninsula, which has been an important producer of 
placer gold since 1899. Hundreds of miles of mining ditches have 
been built at a great expense. When it was decided in 1906 to 
extend stream-gaging work to Alaska, the Nome region was accord^ 
ingly selected as the first district to be studied. A reconnaissance 
was made and gaging stations were established by John C. Hoyt in the 
early summer of 1906, and the work was then carried on until the end 
of the season by Fred F. Henshaw. During last season the work was 
continued by Mr. Henshaw, assisted by Raymond Richards, and was 
extended into the Kougarok region, north of the Kigluaik Mountains, 
in the central portion of Seward Peninsula. Altogether the parties 
were in Seward Peninsula from June 11 to October 3, 1906, and from 
June 11 to October 14, 1907. 

The collection of stream-flow records was begun in the Fairbanks 
district of the Yukon-Tanana region by C. C. Covert in 1907. The 
work was largely that of reconnaissance, but a few regular stations 
were established. 

The work of collecting the data and preparing this report was done 
under the direction of the water resources branch by engineers 
detailed for the purpose. The expenses were paid out of the appro- 
priation for investigating the mineral resources of Alaska, and the 
field work has been under the general supervision of Alfred H. Brooks, 
geologist in charge of Alaskan work. 

COOPERATION. 

The funds available for the work were inadequate to cover properly 
the large extent of country on which it was desirable to obtain records. 
It was possible to obtain daily gage readings only through the hearty 
cooperation of mining operators, ditch companies, and others. Those 
to whom special acknowledgment is due are named below: 

In the Nome region, to the officers and employees of the Miocene 
Ditch Company, Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company, Cedric 
Ditch Company, Pioneer Mining Company, Gold Beach Development 
Company, and the United Ditch Company; to W. L. Leland, of the 
Three Friends Mining Company; to J. E. Styers, superintendent of 
construction for the National Wood Pipe Company; and to Arthur 
Gibson, George Ashley, William E. Morris, J. Potter Whittren, Mark 
N. Ailing, and George M. Ashford, civil and mining engineers, Nome. 

In the Kougarok region, to the officers and employees of the Kou- 
garok Mining and Ditch Company, Taylor Creek Ditch Company, 
Pittsburg-Dick Creek Mining Company, Irving Mining Company, 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

Cascade Mining and Ditch Company, Ottumwa Gold Mining Company, 
and to others for information and accommodations in camp. 

In the Fairbanks district, to John Zug, superintendent good roads 
commission; A. D. Gassaway, general manager of the Chatanika 
Ditch Company; Falcon Joslin, president of the Tanana Mines 
Railroad Company; Herman Wobber, Fairbanks Creek; C. D. 
Hutchinson, electrical engineer, Tanana Electric Company, and 
Martin Harris, Chena. 

EXPLANATION OF DATA AND METHODS. 

The methods of carrying on the work and collecting the data were 
substantially the same as those previously used for similar work, a but 
were adapted to the special conditions found in Seward Peninsula. 

In the consideration of industrial or mining enterprises which use 
the water of streams, it is essential to know the total amount of the 
water flowing in the stream, the daily distribution or the flow, and 
facts in regard to the conditions affecting the flow. Several terms are 
used, such as second-foot, miner's inch, gallons per minute, etc., to 
describe the quantity of water flowing in a stream, the one selected 
depending on the use to be made of the data. 

11 Second-foot " is in most general use for all classes of work, and 
from it the quantity expressed in other terms may be obtained. It 
is an abbreviation of cubic foot per second and may be defined as the 
quantity of water flowing per second in a stream 1 foot wide and 1 foot 
deep at the rate of 1 foot per second. It should be noted that it is a 
rate of flow, and to obtain the actual quantity of water it is necessary 
to multiply it by the time. 

" Second-feet per square mile 77 is the average number of cubic feet 
of water flowing.per second from each square mile of area drained, on 
the assumption that the run-off is distributed uniformly, as regards 
both time and area. 

" Run-off in inches" is the depth to which the drainage area would 
be covered if all the water flowing from it in a given period were con- 
served and uniformly distributed on the surface. It is used for com- 
paring run-off with rainfall, which is expressed in depth in inches. 

11 Acre-foot" is equivalent to 43,560 cubic feet, and is the quantity 
required to cover an acre to the depth of 1 foot. It is commonly used 
in connection with storage problems. 

The "miner's inch," the unit used in connection with placer mining, 
also expresses a rate of flow, and is the quantity of water flowing 
through an orifice of a given size, with a given head. The head and 
size of the orifice used in different localities vary, thus making it a 
most indefinite and unsatisfactory unit. Owing to the confusion 

a See Water-Sup. and Irr. Papers Nos. 94, 95, and 201, U. S. Geol. Survey. 



10 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

arising from its use, it has been denned by law in several States. The 
California miner's inch is in most common use in the United States 
and was defined by an act approved March 23, 1901, as follows: 'The 
standard miner's inch of water shall be equivalent or equal to 1^ cubic 
feet of water per minute, measured through any aperture or orifice." 
This miner's inch corresponds to the so-called " 6-inch pressure" 
and is one-fortieth of a second-foot. The inch in most common use 
in Seward Peninsula is the "old California inch," which was the 
standard in that State prior to the passage of the above act and is 
equivalent to 1.2 cubic feet per minute, or one-fiftieth of a second- 
foot. 

Following is a list of convenient equivalents for use in hydraulic 
computations : 

1 second-foot equals 40 California miner's inches (law of March 23, 1901). 

1 second-foot equals 50 "old California" miner's inches (used prior to law of March 
23, 1901). 

1 second-foot equals 7.48 United States gallons per second; equals 448.8 gallons per 
minute; equals 646,272 gallons for one day. 

1 second-foot for one year covers 1 square mile 1.131 feet, or 13.572 inches deep. 

1 second foot equals about 1 acre-inch per hour. 

1 second-foot for one day covers 1 square mile 0.03719 inch deep. 

1 second-foot for one day equals 1.983 acre-feet. 

100 California miner's inches equal 15.7 United States gallons per second. 

100 California miner's inches for one day equal 4.96 acre-feet. 

100 United States gallons per minute equal 0.223 second-foot. 

100 United States gallons per minute for one day equal 0.442 acre-foot. 

1,000,000 United States gallons per day equal 1.55 second-feet. 

1,000,000 'United States gallons equal 3.07 acre-feet. 

1,000,000 cubic feet equal 22.95 acre-feet. 

1 acre-foot equals 325,850 gallons. 

1 inch deep on 1 square mile equals 2,323,200 cubic feet. 

1 inch deep on 1 square mile equals 0.0737 second-foot per year. 

1 mile equals 5,280 feet. 

1 acre equals 43,560 square feet. 

1 acre equals 209 feet square, nearly. 

1 cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons. 

1 cubic foot of water weighs 62.5 pounds. 

1 horsepower equals 550 foot-pounds per second. 

1 horsepower equals 746 watts. 

1 horsepower equals 1 second-foot falling 8.80 feet. 

1^ horsepower equal about 1 kilowatt. 

Sec, ft. X fall in feet . 

To calculate water power quickly: y. = net horsepower on water- 
wheel realizing 80 per cent of theoretical power. 

The determination of the quantity of water flowing past a certain 
section of a stream at a given time is termed a discharge measure- 
ment. The quantity is the product of two factors — the mean veloc- 
ity and the area of the cross section. The mean velocity is a func- 
tion of surface slope, wetted perimeter, roughness of bed, and the 
channel conditions at, above, and below the gaging section. The 
area depends on the contour of the bed and the fluctuations of the 



1NTE0DUCTI0N. 11 

surface. The two principal ways of measuring the velocity of a 
stream are by floats and current meters. 

All current-meter measurements are made by the engineers of the 
Survey, but as float measurements can readily be made by the 
prospector the method is described below. 

The floats in common use are the surface, subsurface, and tube 
or rod floats. A corked bottle with a flag in the top and weighted 
at the bottom makes one of the most satisfactory surface floats, 
as it is affected but little by wind. In flood measurements, good 
results can be obtained by observing the velocity of floating cakes of 
ice or debris. In all surface-float measurements the observed velocity 
must be multiplied by 0.85 to 0.90 to reduce the surface velocity to the 
mean velocity. The subsurface and tube or rod floats are intended 
to give directly the mean velocity in the vertical. Tubes give 
excellent results when the channel conditions are good, as in canals. 

In measuring velocity by a float, observation is made of the time 
taken by the float to pass over the "run" — a selected stretch of 
river from 50 to 200 feet long. In each discharge measurement a 
large number of velocity determinations are made at different points 
across the stream, and from these observations the mean velocity 
for the whole section is determined. 

The area used in float measurements is the mean of the areas at 
the two ends of the run and at several intermediate sections. 

The essential parts of the current meters in use are (1) a wheel of 
some type so constructed that the impact of flowing water causes it to 
revolve and (2) a device for recording or indicating the number of 
revolutions. The relation between the velocity of the moving water 
and the revolutions of the wheel is determined for each meter. 
This rating is done by drawing the meter through still water for a 
given distance at different speeds and noting the number of revolu- 
tions for each run. From these data a rating table is prepared 
which gives the velocity per second for any number of revolutions. 
Many kinds of current meters have been constructed. 

The small Price acoustic meter (see PL I, A) was used exclusively in 
the work in Alaska. Measurements were made by wading, except 
on Kruzgamepa River, where a cable and car were installed for use 
during high stages. 

In making a measurement a tape line is stretched across the stream 
(see PL I, B) and depth and velocity are measured at regular intervals 
(from 1 to 5 feet apart, depending on the size of the stream). The 
depths from which the area of the cross section is computed are taken 
by soundings with a graduated rod. The velocities are measured 
by a current meter. 

Three methods of measuring the velocity were used. In the first 
the meter is held at the depth of the thread of mean velocity, which 
has been shown by extensive experiments to occur at about 0.6 of the 



12 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

total depth. In the second method the mean of the velocities taken 
at 0.2 and 0.8 depth is taken as the mean. In the third method 
the meter is held at mid depth and about 0.1 of the total depth below 
the surface and above the bottom, and one-fourth of the sum of the 
top and bottom and twice the mid depth is used as the mean. This 
method is not adapted to very shallow streams or to those with 
extremely rough beds. 

One of the general laws of the flow of streams with permanent cross 
sections is that the discharge varies directly with the stage, or gage 
height, and that it will be the same whenever the stage or gage height 
of the stream is the same. Therefore, in order to determine the daily 
discharge of a stream, a gage on which the fluctuations of the surface 
of the stream may be noted is installed and read daily. As the dis- 
charge regularly increases with the stage, it is possible with a few 
discharge measurements taken at various stages to construct a rating 
curve which will give the discharge at all stages. The beds of most of 
the streams measured changed but little during the season and it was 
therefore possible to obtain the daily flow as just stated. 

Water to be of use for mining purposes must be available under con- 
siderable pressure, or when diversion is necessary it must be taken at 
an elevation high enough to allow it to be carried over the divides. 
The gaging stations, therefore, were so established as to obtain meas- 
urements at points whose elevations were sufficient to permit the 
stream to be diverted for use in mining on the ground already pros- 
pected. Such stations were established on all the important streams 
in the area. At some of the locations it was impossible to secure gage 
readers to take the daily observations of river height, and for these 
stations, therefore, it is possible only to give the flow at the time of the 
actual discharge measurements. 



THE NOME REGION. 

By Fred F. Henshaw. 
DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 

The area to which the term "Nome region" is applied is, in a gen- 
eral way, 15 to 20 miles wide and stretches 40 miles inland from the 
town of Nome, which is situated on the southern coast of Seward 
Peninsula. Most of the measurements recorded in this paper were 
made about 20 to 25 miles from the coast, at points where the altitude 
is sufficiently high to make the water available for mining high-level 
placers, but some trips were also made into the adj acent regions to the 
east and west. 

The region embraces three types of topography, which, from south 
to north, are (1) a coastal plain, (2) an upland, and (3) a mountain 
mass. 

Bordering the coast line between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney is 
an area of low relief, which stretches back to the foothills with a 
width of 2 to 5 miles. This lowland, known as the " Nome tundra," is 
made up in general of wet, moss-covered ground, rising with a gentle 
slope to an elevation between 200 and 300 feet at the southern margin 
of the upland. 

The ridges that constitute the upland trend in a general way north 
and south, rising from about 700 feet near the coast to 2,000 feet 30 
miles inland. These ridges are separated by the broad U-shaped 
valleys of the larger drainage courses. Thirty miles from the coast 
the ridges are united by an east-west ridge, which presents a steep 
escarpment toward a broad depression to the north. This depression 
separates the upland from the Kigluaik Mountains. 

The east-west ridge is broken by broad, low gaps, a feature of great 
importance to the engineer who contemplates tapping the water 
resources of the Kigluaik Mountains. North of the depression the 
Kigluaik Mountains, locally known as the Sawtooth Range, rise 
abruptly, constituting a rugged east-west mass, sharply dissected, 
with serrated crest line. As these mountains have been the center of 
local glaciation in recent times, their valleys are characterized by 
cirques, which form important sources of water for the district. 

Most of the area here considered drains southward to Bering Sea 
through Nome and Snake rivers, whose sources lie close to the ridge 
which forms the northern boundary of the upland. A part of the 
waters of the upland also flows southward to Bering Sea through 
Eldorado, Flambeau, Cripple, and Penny rivers. The valleys of all 
of these streams are of about the same type— broad and deep in the 

13 



14 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

upland, with gentle slopes for 300 to 600 feet, then with steeper walls 
which rise to crest lines ranging from 800 to 1,500 feet in altitude. 
Their floors are usually covered with gravels. Some of the smaller 
tributaries occupy sharply incised trenches and have but a thin coat- 
ing of gravel on their rock floors. 

The east-west depression which separates the upland from the 
mountains to the north is drained in part by streams flowing west- 
ward to Sinuk River, which empties into Bering Sea, and in part by 
streams flowing eastward to Kruzgamepa River, which discharges 
into Imuruk Basin. The streams draining the southern slope of the 
Kigluaik Mountains are all tributary to one or the other of the two 
systems. Many of them head in glacial cirques and flow through 
steep-walled rock-bound valleys, and all have torrential courses. 

The general character of all the drainage areas is the same. (See 
PL II.) The streams have little slope, except in their extreme upper 
portions, and spread over wide gravelly beds, in which many of them 
divide into several channels or disappear in the gravel. The channels 
are also subject to considerable shifting during floods. For 1,000 
to 3,000 feet on either side of this gravelly bed extend level or gently 
sloping bottom lands, from which the hills rise abruptly. The 
drainage basins are from* 4 to 12 miles wide. Most of the tributary 
streams are short and flow in narrow ravines having steep sides. 
Their slope is great, and many of them are made up of a series of 
rapids, waterfalls, and pools. 

Practically the whole country to an elevation of 1,000 feet is cov- 
ered with a thick turf, commonly known as " tundra." (See PL 
III, A.) In the summer this turf carries a rank growth of grass dotted 
with wild flowers of many varieties, and in some areas there is con- 
siderable moss. There are no trees with the exception of scattered 
patches of scrub willow and alder, which in the absence of better fuel 
can be used for firewood. Much of the ground remains frozen within 
2 feet of the surface throughout the year. The soil in the lowlands 
is mostly gravel, overlain with muck, which contains a large per- 
centage of water, and, when it thaws out in summer, becomes very 
soft. Considerable areas are underlain by clear ice. The hills are 
composed largely of schist and limestone rock, mantled with loose 
slide and gravel. 

The Nome region has been an important producer of placer gold 
since 1899. During the first two or three years operations were con- 
fined largely to the shallower and richer creeks and to the present 
beach. They were carried on by the primitive methods of rocking 
and shoveling in, and the producing creeks themselves usually fur- 
nished an adequate sluice head. 

During the last five or six seasons the operations have been of two 
widely different kinds, namely, underground and hydraulic mining. 



CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY, NOME REGION. 15 

The ancient beaches, notably the so-called third beach, have yielded 
the largest production during the last four years. The work is carried 
on underground, by shaft and drift, largely in the winter, the material 
being sluiced with water derived from the melting snow in the spring. 
Owing to the small yardage moved and the high tenor of the gravels, 
the problem of obtaining a water supply for sluicing is relatively un- 
important. Pumping by gasoline engine is often resorted to and does 
not materially increase the total cost of mining. In hydraulic mining 
the conditions are radically different. The chief requirements are a 
large body of gravel carrying values and an abundant supply of water 
under a high head. 

The stream-gaging work of the Survey in this district has been 
carried on for the purpose of obtaining accurate information in regard 
to its water resources, developed and undeveloped, and their adapta- 
tion both for placer mining and power. Most of the work in the 
Nome region in 1907 was done by Raymond Richards, and much 
credit is due him for the careful and thorough manner in which he 
carried it on. 

The work has been confined to the comparatively small area from 
which water has been or can be diverted for working the rich placer 
deposits near Nome. The gaging stations were so located that the 
measurements would show the water available in this important area. 
The additional water supply below the points of measurement may 
on many streams have a local value, and all the streams in the vicinity 
of the gold-bearing ground of Seward Peninsula are of more or less 
economic importance, but it was impossible to measure them all on 
account of inadequate funds. 

The results obtained in 1906 have been published, but are included 
in this report in order to bring all the records up to date. a 

The data obtained give a fair idea of conditions of flow that may 
be expected from other areas in the vicinity, provided allowance is 
made for difference in rainfall, topography, and soil. For this pur- 
pose a summary of the flow from different areas has been prepared. 
(Seep. 95.) 

CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. 

Three sources of water supply contribute to the run-off of Seward 
Peninsula — summer rains, melting of accumulated snow, and melting 
of the frozen ground. 

Comparatively few data concerning the rainfall are available for 
years prior to 1906, when rainfall records were begun by the Geolog- 
ical Survey in connection with the investigations of stream flow. 

«Hoyt, J. C, and Henshaw, F. F., Water supply of Nome region, Seward Peninsula, 1906: Water- 
Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 196, U. S. Geological Survey. The edition of this paper is completely 
exhausted, 



16 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Records were received from three stations in 1906 and from six in 
1907. The daily and monthly rainfall at these points is given on 
pages 136 to 138. 

In the opinion of the mining operators at Nome, the season of 1907 
was one of the best for water supply since the settlement of the region, 
whereas 1906 was about the poorest. An examination of the tables 
of rainfall will reveal the fact that this difference must have been due 
less to the greater total rainfall of 1907 than to its more even distri- 
bution through the season. A brief statement of climatic conditions 
for the last nine years is given on page 135. 

At Salmon Lake the total rainfall from June to September was 
greater in 1906 than in 1907 by nearly 2 inches, but as almost half of 
the total fell in six days during the heavy storms of July 8 to 10 and 
September 19 to 21, the minimum flow was smaller and lasted longer 
than in 1907. 

The record of snowfall for the winter of 1906-7 at Nome is the only 
one available. The total (88.7 inches) was abnormally high, and was 
perhaps double that of some other years. The snowfall in the Kig- 
luaik Mountains is probably much larger than that on the coast. 

In 1906 most of the snow in this region had melted before the 1st 
of June. Only the drifts in the gulches and along the north sides of 
the hills and the ice banks along the beds of the rivers remained after 
the 15th. The spring of 1907 was much later and the snowfall of the 
previous winter was heavier. On June 15 the ground in the moun- 
tains was still largely covered with snow, and the daily fluctuation 
of Nome River, due to the more rapid melting of the snow in the day- 
time, continued until about July 20. 

With the exception of Sinuk and Nome rivers, which have their 
sources in the mountains a short distance apart, the streams flowing 
into Bering Sea rise in the foothills of the Kigluaik Range. Their 
drainage areas have a southern exposure and the snow on them 
melts early in the season. They are, therefore, dependent for their 
water supply mostly on the summer rains. The cirques in the Kig- 
luaik Mountains are more protected and hold their snow later in the 
season, so that the flow of the streams which rise in them is much 
better sustained. 

Some water finds its way into the streams from the melting of the 
frozen ground. The frozen muck and ground ice, which carry a 
large amount of water, are protected with a thick coating of moss, 
through which the heat of summer hardly penetrates, and therefore 
they thaw very little. The gravelly and sandy soils, which often 
thaw to a considerable depth, contain much less water. This source 
of water supply is of minor importance. 

In the Nome region there is much ground which becomes thawed 
and takes up the rain as ground storage, especially late in the season. 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. 




A. TUNDRA BETWEEN BEACH AND FOOTHILLS. 




B. MIOCENE DITCH AT GLACIER CREEK. 



CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY, NOME REGION. 



17 



The coming of the frosts, however, checks the flow of the ground 
water. 

Owing to the steep slopes, the thinness of the surface covering, 
and the shallow depth to which the ground thaws, the water from 
the rains finds its way into the streams in a very short time, and the 
streams rise and fall very rapidly. (See fig. 1.) During the heavy 




July 



Aug. 20 Aug.30 Sept.3 



Sept.13 



Fig. 1.— Diagram showing flow of Nome River above Miocene intake and of Grand Central River 

below the forks in 1906. 

storm of July 8, 1906, it was noted that although all supply gates of 
the Miocene ditch were closed and the waste gates were open, the 
ditch was running full from the rain water coming in from the slopes 
above. Owing to this lack of ground storage, which is one of the 
important factors in maintaining a well-sustained stream flow in 
warmer climates, the streams depend in great part on the rainfall 
and melting snow for their supply and respond very quickly to an 
increase or decrease in either. If two or three weeks pass with- 
hardly any rain, as during the last week in July and the first half of 
August in both 1906 and 1907, the streams will fall rapidly. 

A notable feature of many drainage basins is the occurrence of 
limestone springs. These tend to produce a very uniform flow, and 
when the entire flow is from this source, as in the case of Hobson 
Creek, the variation in discharge is small. Other streams deriving 
much of their discharge from springs are Morning Call Creek and 
Grand Central River in the Nome region, North Fork and Budd 
Creek in the Kougarok region, and many creeks in the Solomon and 
Casadepaga regions. 

35283— irr 218—08 2 



18 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 
GAGING STATIONS. 



The following list gives the points in the Nome region at which 
gages were established or discharge measurements made in 1906 and 
1907. The numbers refer to PL IV. 



Gaging stations in Nome region. 



10. 
11. 

12. 

13. 
14. 
15. 

16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 

23. 
24. 



Nome River above Miocene intake. 

Buffalo Creek. 

Dorothy Creek. 

Miocene ditch at Black Point. 

Miocene ditch at flume. 

Hob son Creek at Miocene ditch 

crossing. 
David Creek ditch intake. 
Seward ditch intake. 
North Fork of Grand Central River 

at elevation 750 feet. 
North Pork of Grand Central River 

at elevation 1,030 feet. 
West Fork of Grand Central River at 

elevation 860 feet. 
West Fork of Grand Central River at 

elevation 1,010 feet. 
Crater Lake outlet. 
Grand Central River below forks. 
Grand Central River below Nugget 

Creek. 
Gold Run. 
Thompson Creek. 
Nugget Creek. 
Copper Creek. 
Jett Creek. 
Morning Call Creek. 
Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Sal- 
mon Lake. 
Crater Creek. 
Iron Creek below mouth of Canyon 

Creek. 



25 Iron (Dome) Creek. 

26. Eldorado Creek. 

27. Discovery Creek. 

28. Canyon Creek. 

29. Sinuk River. 

30. Windy Creek. 

31. North Star Creek. 

32. Stewart River. 

33. Slate Creek. 

34. Josie Creek. 

35. Irene Creek. 

36. Jessie Creek. 

37. Upper Oregon Creek. 

38. Slate Creek. 

39. Aurora Creek. 

40. Penny River at elevation 420 feet. 

41. Penny River at elevation 120 feet. 

42. Eldorado River. 

43. Fall Creek. 

44. Glacier Creek. 

45. Snow Gulch. 

46. Nome River at Pioneer intake and 

Pioneer ditch. 

47. Miocene ditch at Clara Creek. 

48. Rock Creek. 

49. Slate Creek. 

50. Cedric ditch above penstock. 

51. Snake River above Glacier Creek. 

52. Solomon River below Johns Creek. 

53. Solomon River below East Fork. 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Nome River is formed by the junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon 
creeks, which have their sources in the Kigluaik Range. It has a 
drainage area of 150 square miles and flows in a general southerly 
direction through a valley having a length of about 40 miles and a 
width ranging from 4 to 6 miles. The elevation at the headwaters 
is between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, and the altitude of the ridges that 
bound the valley on the east and west averages 1,000 feet. The 
principal tributaries are David, Sulphur, Darling, Buster, and Qsborn 



, S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. IV 




MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS IN NOME REGION. 



CI 

dl 
di 

w 
is 
be 

P r 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



19 



creeks from the east and Divide, Dorothy, Clara, and Hobson creeks 
from the west. 

Nome River is the most important source of water for use in 
hydraulicking the rich placer deposits on the old beach lines back of 
Nome. Four ditches have been built to divert water for mining 
purposes. These systems, with the elevations of their intakes, are 
the Campion, 610 feet; Miocene, 572 feet; Seward, 407 feet; and 
Pioneer, 330 feet. 

Any additional water supply that may be obtained in other high- 
level streams can best be brought to the mines by way of the valley 
of Nome River. During the seasons of 1906 and 1907 the waters of 
Nugget, Copper, and Jett creeks were diverted over the Nugget 
divide by branches of the Miocene system. 

Discharge measurements made in this drainage area are given in 
the following pages. \ 

NOME RIVER ABOVE MIOCENE INTAKE. 

This station, elevation about 575 feet, is located between the junc- 
tion of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks and the intake of the Miocene 
ditch. At low water the river at this point has a width of about 30 
feet, a depth of H feet, and a mean velocity of 1 foot per second. The 
gage was read twice daily by employees of the Miocene Ditch Com- 
pany. 

The flow at this station is affected by four ditches — the Campion 
ditch, which diverts water above the station, and the Jett Creek, 
David Creek, and Grand Central ditches, which bring in water above 
the station from areas outside the Nome River basin. In order to 
obtain the natural flow of the river, the mean flow of the Campion 
ditch has been added to the flow at the gaging station and the flow 
of the other three ditches subtracted. 

Discharge measurements of Nome River above Miocene intake in 1906-7. 
[Elevation, 575 feet.] 



Date. 



June 17 a.. 
June 28 . . . 

July3 

July 5 

July 14.... 

Do.... 
August 3.. 
August 23. 

Do.... 



June 21 . 



1906. 



1907. 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 




39 


0.15 


28 


.00 


21 


.45 


54.7 


.40 


50.5 


= 82 


117 


—.01 


21.4 


.87 


121 


.70 


87 


1.25 


135 



Date. 



1907. 



June 22..... 

June 30 

July 10 

July 12 

July 17 

August 4 

Do 

August 7 

August 17... 

Do 

September 4 . 
September 9. 



height. 



Feet. 
1.25 
1.09 
.95 
.78 
.60 
.44 
.36 
.25 
.75 
.68 
.53 
.96 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 

141 
95 

120 
74 
43 
37 
37 
25 
82 
72 
48 

124 



a One-half mile above Dorothy Creek 



20 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Daily gage height and discharge of Nome River at Miocene intake, 1906-7. 
[Drainage area, 15 square miles.] 



Bay. 



Total. 



1906. 



July. 






Ft. 



Mean at gaging station 

Mean of Campion ditch 

Total 



David Creek ditch. . . 

Jett Creek ditch 

Grand Central ditch. 



Natural flow of Nome River. 

Run-off per square mile 

Run-off, depth in inches 



0.00 
.25 
.48 
.31 
.28 
1.31 
1.50 
.85 
.58 
.60 
.50 
.61 
.56 



S.ft. 
23 
23 
21 
35 
59 
40 
37 
214 



5a 2 
5.2 



61.4 



51.4 
3 43 
3.95 



August. 






Ft. 

0.02 

.00 

-.01 

-.02 

-.04 

-.04 

+ .09 

+ .04 

-.02 

.00 

+.26 

.34 

.28 

.10 

.04 

.03 

.02 

.00 

.00 

+.38 

.41 

.42 

.87 

.53 



1.14 
.78 
.72 
.70 



S.ft. 
22 
21 
21 
20 
20 
20 
25 
23 
20 
21 
36 
43 
37 
25 
23 
22 
22 
21 
21 
47 
50 
52 
123 
66 
59 
110 
176 
106 
96 
92 
79 



49.0 
14.4 



50.4 
3.36 
3.87 



Septem- 






Ft. 

0.61 
.57 
.52 
.46 
.42 
,40 
.36 
.36 
.27 
.21 
.18 
.18 
.18 
.15 
.12 
.10 
.10 
.32 
.70 

1.22 

1.12 
.83 
.82 
.74 
.65 
.60 
.54 
.52 
.52 
.50 



1907. 



June. 






S.ft. 
78 
72 
65 
57 
52 
49 
45 
39 
37 
32 
30 
30 
30 
28 
26 
25 
25 
41 
92 
194 
172 
115 
114 
99 
84 
76 
68 
65 
65 
62 



Ft. 



65.6 
15.8 



81.4 



64.4 
4.29 
4,79 



2.14 
1.44 
1.29 
2.12 
1.60 
1.36 
1.26 
1.29 
1.28 
1.66 
1.56 
1.55 
1.38 
1.26 
1.31 
1.20 



S.ft. 



384 
192 
149 
378 
237 
169 
141 
149 
146 
253 
225 
222 
174 
141 
155 
124 



July. 



Ft. 

1.19 

1.06 

1.03 

.94 

.94 

1.08 

1.04 

.90 

.84 

.88 

.92 

.78 

.80 

.75 

.65 

.65 

.64 

.64 

.72 

.80 

.94 

.70 

.71 



202 



202 
13.5 
8.03 



S.ft. 

122 

88 

80 

117 

117 

168 

152 

103 

87 

97 

110 

74 

78 

68 

53 

53 

52 

52 

63 

78 

117 

60 

62 

59 

54 

52 

43 

37 

35 

39 

43 



August. 



Ft. 

0.51 
.49 
.48 
.45 
.33 
.33 
.27 
.28 
.27 
.22 
.22 
.22 
.20 
.24 
.20 
.51 
.74 
.70 
.64 
.60 
.52 
.50 
.46 
.46 
.42 
.62 
.67 
.60 
,62 
.78 
,62 



1 be 



S.ft. 
38 
36 
35 
33 
32 
32 
27 
28 
27 
24 
24 
24 
23 
25 
23 
48 
79 
72 
64 
58 
49 
47 
42 
42 
39 
61 



77.8 
7.3 




85 1 


5.5 
3 1 
4.3 

12.9 


72.2 
4.81 
5 54 



44.1 
12.9 



57.0 
U~8 



6.1 
6.2 



2.19 
2.52 



Septem- 
ber. 



85 



20.8 

58.4 
3.89 
4.34 



a Approximate. 

Note.— Discharges for 1907 were computed from three rating curves, covering June 15 to July 3, 
July 4 to August 4, and August 5 to September 30. The channel below the gage was scraped out 
with horses on July 1 to 7 and August 4. 



NOME ETVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 21 

Natural daily discharge, in second-feet, of Nome River at Miocene intake, 1907. 



Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




122 

88 

80 

117 

117 

168 

. 159 

108 

88 

101 

112 

70 

76 

63 

51 

52 

43 


26 
26 
25 
24 
23 
23 
19 
22 
22 
19 
19 
19 
18 
20 
16 
34 
63 


43 
38 
36 
40 
35 
34 
29 
29 
101 
307 
200 
112 
79 
74 
85 
63 
57 


18 


378 
237 
169 
141 
149 
146 
253 
225 
222 
174 
141 
155 
124 


46 
53 
66 
100 
49 
48 
44 
39 
37 
29 
26 
23 
30 
33 


57 
45 
37 
29 
30 
29 
28 
25 
50 
56 
44 
46 
75 
49 


41 


2 




19 


43 


3 




20 


40 


4 




21 


35 


5 




22 


22 


6 




23 

24 


18 


7 




31 


8 




25 

26 


30 


9 




30 


10 




27 


28 


11 




28 


27 


12 




29 


26 


13 




30 


18 


14 




31 






384 
192 
149 


Mean 






16 


202 


72.2 


32.9 


58.4 











NOME RIVER AT PIONEER INTAKE AND PIONEER DITCH. 

These stations were established to obtain the total discharge of 
Nome River available for the three ditches. Both were located 
about one-fourth mile below the diversion dam of the Pioneer ditch. 

Gage heights were obtained for only a short period in August, 
when readings were made by employees of the Pioneer Mining 
Company. 

To obtain the natural flow of the river, the discharge of the Seward 
ditch at intake and of the Miocene ditch at Clara Creek has been 
added, and that of the two ditches discharging over Nugget divide 
subtracted. The run-off per square mile thus obtained is slightly 
greater than that of the river at the Miocene intake for the same 
period. The discharge at this station can, therefore, be conserva- 
tively estimated at the same rate per square mile as that at the upper 
station. 

Discharge measurements of Nome River at Pioneer intake and Pioneer ditch, 1907. 

[Elevation, 330 feet.] 
NOME RIVER. 



July 9.... 
July 18... 
August 9. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.89 
1.58 
1.13 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. ft. 

132 

58 

3 



Date. 



August 20. 
August 29. 



height. 



Feet. 
1.39 
1.49 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. ft. 



PIONEER DITCH. 


July 18 


1.22 
1.35 
1.19 


18.7 
22.2 
16.8 




1.41 
1.44 


24.3 


July 24 




25.6 


August 9 











22 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Daily gage-height and discharge of Nome River and diversions at Pioneer intake, 

August, 1907. 







[Drainage area, 38 square miles.] 












Nome River. 


Pioneer ditch. 


Seward 
ditch. 


Mi- 
ocene 
ditch. 


Total. 


Di- 
verted 
over 
Nugget 
divide. 


Net 
total. 


Nome 
River 

at Mio- 
cene 
intake. 


Day. . 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


21 


Feet. 
1.40 
1.30 
1.30 
1.25 
1.25 
1.55 
1.60 
1.57 
1.52 
1.75 
1.55 


Sec. ft. 
29 
16 
16 
12 
12 
52 
62 
55 
47 
95 
52 


Feet. 
1.43 
1.40 
1.42 
1.42 
1.48 
1.48 
1.40 
1.38 
1.30 
1.39 
1.36 


Sec. ft. 
25.0 
24.0 
24.7 
24.7 
26.8 
26.8 
24.0 
23.4 
20.8 
23.7 
22.7 


Sec. ft. 
29.0 
26.9 
27.9 
27.9 
29.0 
29.0 
27.2 
27.2 
27.9 
28.6 
28.6 


Sec. ft. 
34.0 
34.0 
34.0 
33.0 
34.6 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 


Sec. ft. 
117 
101 
103 
98 
103 
143 
148 
140 
131 
183 
139 


Sec. ft. 
17.5 
15.5 
14.2 
16.2 
14.9 
14.2 
14.9 
15.6 
16.9 
14.9 
14.9 


Sec. ft. 
100 
86 
89 
82 
88 
129 
133 
124 
114 
168 
124 


Sec. ft. 
29 
30 
29 
28 
25 


22 


23 


24 


25 


26 


50 


27 




28 


44 


29 


4ti 


30 


75 


31 


49 






Mean 




40.7 




24.2 


28.1 


34.6 


128 


15.4 


112 
2. 95 


41.9 


Run -off per square 
mile 




2 80 























BUFFALO CREEK. 

Buffalo Creek rises in a high U-shaped valley on the south side of 
the Kigluaik Mountains, and after a steep descent joins Deep Canyon 
Creek, forming Nome River. Measurements were made as follows: 

Discharge measurements on Buffalo Creek in 1906. 

[Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 4.4 square miles.] 

Second- 
feet. 

June 28 • 18. 1 

July 6 '. 23. 3 

August 3 9.1 

DAVID CREEK. 

David Creek is the first large tributary of Nome River below the 
junction of Buffalo and Deep Canyon creeks. Its valley has a north- 
westward exposure, and holds a considerable amount of snow well 
into the summer. 

The discharge of the David Creek lateral of the Miocene ditch (see 
p. 33) is equal to that of the creek at the. point of diversion at times 
of low water. This has been compared with the natural flow of Nome 
River for five such periods, as follows : 

Comparison of floiv of David Creek and Nome River at Miocene intake, 1907. 



Date. 


Nome 
River. 


David 

Creek. 


David 
Creek 
in per 
cent of 
Nome 
River. 


July 25-31 : 


Sec. ft. 
31 
22 
32 
34 
32 


Sec. ft. 
14.3 
10.4 
13.8 
11.9 
11.2 


46 




47 


August 19-25 


43 




35 


September 19-30. 


35 







NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



28 



The above table shows that the discharge of David Creek was from 
47 to 35 per cent of that of Nome River. The discharge for other 
periods than those given has therefore been taken as 45 per cent of 
that of Nome River for July, 40 per cent for August, and 35 per cent 
for September. 

Monthly discharge of David Creek at Miocene intake, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 4.3 square miles. 





Discharge in second-feet. 


Run-off. 


Month. 


Maximum. 


Minimum. 


Mean. 


Second- 
feet per 
square 
mile. 


Depth in 
inches. 


July 


76 
30 
107 


10.9 
8.9 
8.3 


32.2 
14.2 

20.7 


7.49 
3.30 
4.81 


8.64 


August 


3.80 




5.37 






92 days : 


107 


8.3 


22.4 


5.20 


17.81 














\ 





DOROTHY CREEK. 

Dorothy Creek, which enters Nome River from the southwest, is a 
short, precipitous stream. It receives water from the Campion ditch, 
as noted on page 35. The following discharge measurements were 
nfade above the outlet of the ditch: 

Discharge measurements on Dorothy Creek in 1906. 

[Elevation, 500 feet; drainage area, 2.7 square miles.] 

Second- 
feet. 
June 16 5. 1 

July 29 3.0 

August 18 2. 9 

HOBSON CREEK. 

Hobson Creek is one of the most interesting and valuable streams 
in the Nome region. It rises south of Dorothy Creek, flows south- 
ward and discharges into Nome River about 18 miles from the sea- 
coast. It is about 4 miles long and very steep. Its only important 
tributary is Manila Creek, which becomes dry at low water. Hobson 
Creek is notable for the large limestone springs from which it receives 
its water. The highest of these springs emerges just above the dam 
at the Miocene ditch crossing. Above them a trench has been dug 
across the stream to solid rock, and no flow was intercepted. Be- 
tween the dam and the mouth of Manila Creek there are many springs, 
none of them very large, but giving an aggregate discharge nearly 
equal to that above the Miocene intake. 

At low water the Miocene ditch obtains nearly half its water supply 
from Hobson Creek. Laterals have also been built to the other 
ditches, that to the Seward lying on the east bank and the Pioneer 
branch on the west bank. 



24 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



The water from Hobson Creek is valuable not only on account of its 
remarkably uniform flow but also on account of its high temperature, 
which prevents the formation of slush ice during cold nights and 
makes it possible to run the ditches somewhat longer than they 
could be with Nome River water alone. 

In the opinion of employees of the Miocene Ditch Company the 
extreme range of the discharge of the upper springs is from 8 to 32 
second-feet during the summer season. During the winter they 
probably run somewhat lower, but always remain open. 

Daily discharge, in second-feet, of Hobson Creek at Miocene intake, 1907. 
[Elevation, 500 feet; drainage area, 2.6 square miles.] 



Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




25.5 
24.9 
23.8 
22.7 
22.7 
21.1 
19.6 
25.8 
24.5 
22.7 
23.0 
24.0 
23.0 
23.0 
19.7 
23.1 
21.4 
23.2 
22.3 


20.4 
18.7 
19.1 
19.3 
19.2 
18.9 
19.4 
17.3 
18.1 
18.2 
16.2 
16.7 
16.4 
16.4 
16.3 
16,9 
14.7 
14.7 
14.3 


17.7 
17.3 
17.3 
17.7 
17.3 
16.9 
16.5 
17.9 
16.6 
18.2 
20.0 
20.5 
21.0 
21.9 
20.3 
20.6 
20.6 
20.7 
20.3 


20 




22.6 
23.0 
21.1 
22.3 
23.5 
22.7 
24.2 
21.8 
21.4 
20.2 
20.9 
21.2 


14.3 
15.4 
14.7 
14.3 
16.8 
18.3 
17.3 
17.3 
17.3 
17.7 
17.7 
17.7 


19.5 


2 




21 




19 7 


3 




22 




18 3 


4 




23 




22 3 


5 




24 




20.6 


6 




25. 




19.5 


7 




26.. 




19.3 


8 




27.. 




17.7 


9 




28 


26.7 
25.8 
25.0 


19.0 


10 




29 


19.3 


11 




30 


19.7 


12 




31 




13 











14 




25.8 
9.92 
1.11 


22.6 
8.69 
10.02 


17.1 
6.58 
7.59 


19.1 


15 




Run-off per 
square mile 

Run-off, depth 
in inches 




16 




7.35 


17 






18 




8.20 


19 













Note.— These discharges were obtained by subtracting those of the Miocene ditch above the dam 
from the flow of the ditch below the dam, and adding the amount spilled from the waste way, as esti- 
mated by C A. McDermith. Some water was being spilled from July 16 to 26 and September 12 to 30. 

Discharge measurements of Hobson Creek below Manila Creek and diversions, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 5.1 square miles. 



Point of measurement. 


July 2. 


July 9. 


July 19. 


Aug. 9. 


Sept. 28. 


Miocene intake 


Sec. ft. 

24.9 
0.0 
0.0 

25.0 


Sec. ft. 

24.5 
5.2 
0.0 

21.0 


Sec. ft. 

22.3 
5.2 
0.0 

17.7 


Sec. ft. 

18.1 
4.3 
0.0 

10.7 


Sec. ft. 
19.0 


Seward lateral 


4.5 


Pioneer lateral 


5.8 


Hobson Creek below Manila Creek. . . 


5.0 








49.9 

• 


50.7 


45.2 


33.1 


34.3 



THE MIOCENE DITCH SYSTEM. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



The Miocene ditch system includes 31 miles of main ditch and 31 
miles of lateral feeders and distributing ditches, 8 miles of which are 
under construction. (See PI. Ill, B, and PL Y.) This ditch diverts 
water from upper Glacier Creek, upper Snake River, Nome River and 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 25 

its tributaries, and from the Grand Central River drainage for use on 
claims along lower Glacier, Dexter, and Anvil creeks. 

The first section of this system was built in 1901, from upper Glacier 
Creek to Snow Gulch, this being the first ditch in Seward Peninsula. 
In 1902 an extension was made from Ex to Hobson Creek, and in 1903 
the ditch was extended to the head of Nome River, these three sec- 
tions constituting the main line of the system, with a length of 31 
miles. The elevation of the intake is 572 feet and that of the lower 
end 420 feet, giving a fall of 152 feet. This fall varies at different 
points along the ditch, ranging from 3.17 to 7 feet per mile. There 
are two siphons, one at Dorothy Creek, 24 inches by 300 feet, which 
carries about 40 second-feet, and one at Manila Creek, 40 inches by 
1,000 feet. Below Willow Creek there is a 1,100-foot flume. The 
main ditch has an average width of 8 feet aboye and 10 feet below 
Hobson Creek, and a capacity of 60 second-feet. The mean flow is 
about 40 second-feet. 

The water is delivered from the end of the ditch on claims along 
Glacier Creek; on Anvil Creek by a tunnel 1,800 feet long and 4 by 6 
feet in cross section, built in 1903 and 1904; and on Dexter Creek by 
a ditch from Ex around the south side of King Mountain. 

The lateral feeders, in order up the ditch, are: (1) From upper 
Glacier Creek to Ex (this was the upper portion of the first section of 
the main ditch); (2) from Grouse and Cold creeks to flume; (3) from 
upper New Eldorado Creek to Buster Creek (it was originally intended 
to connect this feeder with the main ditch by a siphon across Nome 
River, but in 1907 it was extended to producing ground on Buster 
Creek); (4) the David Creek ditch, which empties into Nome River 
above the intake; (5) the Jett Creek ditch, which takes water from 
Jett and Copper creeks and carries it over the Nugget divide; (6) the 
Grand Central ditch, which is under construction (this ditch diverts 
water from Nugget Creek and will tap the headwaters of Grand Cen- 
tral River). 

As a rule water can not be turned into ditches in this region before 
July 1, as there is too much frost in the ground. In 1906 the water 
of Hobson Creek was turned into the ditch about June 20 and that of 
Nome River about June 26, but before July 1 it was turned out fre- 
quently to permit repairs. The ditch was also out of use on account 
of a break from July 8 to 11, inclusive, after which the water ran 
almost continually. The Nome River water was turned out October 
12, and the Hobson Creek water on the morning of the 13th. This 
season was somewhat longer than usual. In 1907 the Hobson Creek 
water was turned in on June 27 and that from Nome River on July 3, 
but the ditch was not run to its full capacity until July 27. All water 
was turned out on October 3. A break occurred just below Hobson 



26 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Creek on September 10 and all water turned out for thirty- three 
hours; this was practically the only interruption in the flow. 

During 1906 two gaging stations were maintained on the ditch — 
one at Black Point, about 1 mile below the intake, to determine the 
amount of water diverted from Nome River, and one at the flume, 
which gives practically the total amount delivered at the mines. 

In 1907 three additional stations were established — at Clara Creek, 
above Hobson Creek, and below Hobson Creek. The difference in 
discharge at the last two gives the flow of the creek (p. 24). The dif- 
ference between the flow at any of the other stations and that at the 
one below it gives the loss by seepage in that portion of the ditch. 
The Grouse Creek lateral joins the main ditch between Hobson Creek 
and the flume and sometimes causes an increased discharge at the 
flume as compared with that at the creek station. Measurements of 
this lateral are given on page 35. The distances by ditch between sta- 
tions are as follows: Black Point to Clara Creek, 7.1 miles; Clara 
Creek to Hobson Creek, 4.9 miles; Hobson Creek to the flume, 4.2 
miles; the flume to the Ex, 9.5 miles. Measurements at the Ex are 
given on page 30. The flow of the Glacier Creek lateral about equals 
the seepage below the flume. 

The results of measurements at the above-named stations are 
given in the following pages. All the gages were read by employees 
of the Miocene Ditch Company from two to four times a day. Gage 
readings taken after September 30 were unreliable, on account of the 
slush ice that was running, and the discharge for the last few days in 
September may be slightly too large, for the same reason. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at Black Point, 1906-7. 



Date. 



190G 

July7 

July 13 

July 21 

July 27 

July 29 

August 2 

August 11 

August 23 

September 11 

September 25 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec. ft. 


0.80 


31.8 


.89 


34.1 


.71 


27.5 


.68 


25.7 


.46 


20,6 


.39 


18.1 


1.20 


44.7 


1.30 


48.3 


.85 


30.7 


1.10 


38.2 



Date. 



1907 

July 4 

July 10 

July 17 

August 2 

August 6 

August 16 

Do 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

0.51 
.57 
.79 
.96 
.62 
.91 

1.13 



Dis- 
charge. 

Sec. ft. 
21.8 
24.0 
29.6 
36.4 
25.1 
33.5 
42.5 



NOME RTVER DRAINAGE BASTN. 



27 



Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch at Black Point, 1906-7. 





1906. 


1907. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


§ 
5 
A 

CD 

60 

5 


a5 

o3 
A 
o 

s 


i 

i 

CP 

o 


6 

A 

o 

CO 

s 


ho 

1 

CD 

8P 

o 


o5 

8 

1 

co 

s 


3 
A 

CD 

8P 

o 


03 
eg 

A 

u 

s 


s 

A 

CD 

bo 

cti 

o 


6 

to 

s 


4^ 

to 

"3 

CB 

bC 

o3 
O 


6 

■a 

CO 

ft 


1 

2 


Feet. 

0.70 
.70 
.60 
.85 
.95 
.88 
.85 


Sec.-ft. 
27 
27 
24 
31.5 
34.8 
32.4 
31.5 






21 

36.5 
36.5 
36.5 
43.5 
40 
40 
40 

33.7 
27 
27 

24.6 
31.5 
34.8 
33.7 
28.5 
24.6 
22.2 
21 
19.9 
19.2 


Feet. 

0.40 

.38 

.35 

.34 

.33 

.34 

.52 

.48 

.37 

.40 

.81 

.82 

.96 

.60 

.50 

.50 

.45 

.39 

.46 

.86 

1.12 

1.03 

1.17 

1.19 

1.20 

1.17 

1.16 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 


Sec.-ft. 
18.8 
18.5 
18 

17.8 
17.7 
17.8 
21.6 
20.6 
18.3 
18.8 
30.3 
30.6 
35.1 
24 
21 
21 

19.9 
18.6 
20.1 
31.8 
40.7 
37.6 
42.4 
43.2 
43.5 
42.4 
42.1 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 


Feet. 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 

1.17 

1.04 

1.00 

.98 

.82 

.80 

.80 

.76 

.72 

.66 

.64 

.78 

.80 

.58 

.69 

.92 

1.00 

.96 

1.05 

1.06 

1.22 

1.20 

1.20 

1.20 


Sec.-ft. 
43,5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 
42.4 
37.9 
36.5 
35.8 
30.6 
30 
30 

28.8 
27.6 
25.8 
25.2 
29.4 
30 

23.4 
26.7 
33.7 
36.5 
35.1 
38.2 
38.6 
44.2 
43.5 
43.5 
43.5 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.05 

.98 

.91 

.85 

.80 

.68 

.61 

.64 

.61 

.52 

.52 

.52 

.50 

.55 

.45 

.90 

1.15 

1.15 

1.15 

1.16 

1.16 

1.16 

1.10 

1.08 

1.02 

1.15 

1.16 

1.16 

1.16 

1.15 

1.15 


Sec.-ft. 
38.8 
36.5 
34.2 
32.2 
30.7 
27.0 
24. 9 
25^8 
24.9 
22.3 
22.3 
22.3 
21.7 
23.> 
20.4 
33.8 
42.2 
42.2 
42.2 
42.6 
42.6 
42.6 
40.5 
39.8 
37.7 
42.2 
42.6 
42.6 
42.6 
42.2 
42.2 


Feet. 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.15 
1.04 
1.08 
1.10 
.80 
.48 
.98 
1.15 
1.08 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.08 
1.15 
1.08 
1.15 
1.15 
1.06 
1.00 
1.04 
.98 
.94 
1.02 
1.12 


Sec.-ft. 
42.2 






42.2 


3 


0.52 
.50 
.50 
.45 
.40 
.48 
.48 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.50 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.85 
.86 

1.00 
.94 
.94 
.96 

1.10 


22.3 
21.7 
21.7 
20.4 
19.2 
21.1 
21.1 
21.7 
21.7 
21.7 
21.7 
21.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
30.7 
32.2 
32.6 
37.1 
35.1 
35.1 
35.8 
40.5 


42.2 


4. 


42.2 


5 


42.2 


6 


42.2 


7 


38.4 


8 


39.8 


9 




40.5 


10 




30.7 


11 


.50 
1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
1.20 
1.10, 
1.10 
1.10 
.92 
.70 
.70 
.62 
.85 
.95 
.92 
.75 
.62 
.54 
.50 
.45 
.42 


21.1 


12.. 


36.5 


13 


42.2 


14 


39.8 


15 


37.1 


16 


37.1 


17 


37.1 


18 


37.1 


19 .. 


39.8 


20: 


42.2 


21 


39.8 


22 


42.2 


23 


42.2 


24 


39. 1 


25 

26 


37.1 
38.4 


27 . 


36.5 


28 

29 


35.1 

37.7 


30... 


41.2 


31 . . . 


















27.4 




29.2 




35.9 


28. 




34.4 




38.7 









Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at Clara Creek, 190') 



Date. 



July 9... 
July 18.. 
August 9 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.50 
.79 
.60 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 

18.2 

•■ 27.7 

21.1 



Date. 



August 20 . . . 
August 29 . . . 
September 27 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.91 
.92 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
35.2 
34.7 
34.0 



28 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch at Clara Creek, 1907. 





July. 


August. 


September. 




July. 


August. September. 












+; 
















Day. 


A 
to 


a5 


§ 




S 


1 


Day. 


§, 


a5 


§ 


S> S> 






A 


c3 


a 


co 


A 


o3 




A 


fl3 


A 


o3 ,d 


o3 




9P 


A 

cj 

GO 


a> 

8P 


■a 

go 


1 


■3 

go 




CD 


A 
O 


fj> 


a 

go 


bQ 


i 

00 




o 


P 


o 


P 


o 


p 




3 


A 


O 


ft o 


A 




Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-//. Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1 






0.89 

.85 
.84 
.80 
.78 
.66 


33.5 
31.5 
31.0 
29.0 
28.1 
23.1 


0.92 
.92 
.92 
.92 
.92 
.91 


35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
35.2 
34.6 


18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 


82 
79 

79 

81 
82 
80 


30.0 
28.6 
28.6 
29.5 
30.0 
29.0 


0.91 
.90 
.91 
.90 
.90 
.90 


34.6 

34.0 

34.6 

34.0 

34.0 

34.0 


91 
92 

So 
95 

88 
88 


34.6 


2 






35.2 


3 




a 18.0 
« 19.0 
a 19.0 
a 19.0 


31.5 


4 




37.0 






33.0 


6 




33.0 


7 


6.52 


18.8 


.60 


21.0 


.89 


33.5 


24 


80 


29.0 


.88 


33.0 


92 


35.2 


8 


.55 


19.6 


.58 


20.4 


.88 


33.0 


25 


80 


29.0 


.91 


34.6 


90 


34.0 


9 


.50 


18.2 


.55 


19.6 


.92 


35.2 


26 


82 


30.0 


.92 


35.2 


92 


35.2 


10 


.54 


19.3 


.52 


18.8 


.69 


24.2 


27....... 


88 


33.0 


.92 


35.2 


88 


33.0 


11 


.56 


19.9 


.50 


18.2 


.70 


24.5 


28 


88 


33.0 


.92 


35.2 


84 


31.0 


12 


.46 


17.2 


.50 


18.2 


.88 


33.0 


29 


83 


30.5 


.92 


35.2 


88 


33.0 


13 


.50 


18.2 


.48 


17.7 


.95 


37.0 


30 


89 


33.5 


.92 


35.2 


88 


33.0 


14 


.51 

.71 

.82 


18.5 
25.0 
30.0 


.52 
.48 

.72 


18.8 
17.7 
25.4 


.95 
.94 
.91 


37.0 
36.4 
34.6 


31 


92 


35.2 


.92 


35.2 .. 






15 

16 








Mean. .. 




25.4 




28.7 .. 




33.7 


17 


.75 


26.8 


.92. 


35.2 


.91 


34.6 


1 















a Estimated from Black Point records. 
Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch above Hobson Creek, 1907. 



Date. 



July 9. 
July 19 
August 



Gage | Dis- 
height. charge. 



Feet. Sec.-ft. 
0. 88 17. 6 

1. 25 25. 7 

. 98 18. 8 



Date. 



August 29 . . . 
September 27 
September 28 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.38 
1.36 
1.30 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
35.4 
31.7 
31.8 



Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch above Hobson Creek, 1907. 





July. 


August. 


September. 




July. 


August. 


September. 




• 








^ 








+a 




+s 






A 




A 




A 






A 




A 




A 




Day. 


to 


?? 


55 


&e 


.W) 


&F 


Day. 


53 


&? 




§» 




S> 




A 


oS 


A 


c3 


A 


o3 




A 


03 


A 


o3 


A 


c3 





HP 


1 


0> 


1 


i 


| 




60 

03 


■a 




■a 

GO 


8P 


id 

00 




O 


P 


O 


P 


O 


ft 




O 


ft 


o 


A 


o 


p 




Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 




Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1 






1.37 
1.31 
1.30 


33.1 
31.0 
30.6 


1.38 
1.38 
1.38 


33.5 
33.5 
33.5 


18 

19 

20 


1.20 
1.20 
1.16 


27.0 
27.0 
25.6 


1.38 
1.38 
1.38 


33.5 
33.5 
33.5 


1.37 
1.38 
1.35 


33.1 


2 






33.5 


3 


0.80 


14.7 


32.4 


4 v. 


.90 


17.3 


1.20 


27.0 


1.38 


33.5 


21 


1.21 


27.4 


1.38 


33.5 


1.39 


33.8 


5 


.90 


17.3 


1.18 


26.3 


1.38 


33.5 


22 


1.21 


27.4 


1.38 


33.5 


1.39 


33.8 


6 


.90 


17.3 


1.04 


21.5 


1.38 


33.5 


23 


1.23 


28.1 


1.37 


33.1 


1.29 


30.2 


7 


.93 


18.1 


.97 


19.3 


1.35 


32.4 


24 


1.24 


28.4 


1.29 


30.2 


1.39 


33.8 


8 


.77 


13.9 


.95 


18.7 


1.31 


31.0 


25 


1.22 


27.7 


1.30 


30.6 


1.39 


33.8 


9 


.89 


17.0 


.99 


19.9 


1.39 


33.8 


26 


1.22 


27.7 


1.38 


33.5 


1.39 


33.8 


10 


.90 


17.3 


.90 


17.3 


1.42 


34.9 


27 


1.33 


31.7 


1.38 


33.5 


1.35 


32.4 


11....... 


.89 


17.0 


.88 


16.8 







28 


1.33 


31.7 


1.38 


33.5 


1.27 


29.5 


12 


.85 


16.0 


.86 


16.3 


1.34 


32.0 


29 


1.28 


29.9 


1.38 


33.5 


1.30 


30.0 


13 


.89 


17.0 


.84 


15.7 


1.40 


34.2 


30 


1.27 


29.5 


1.38 


33.5 


1.35 


32.4 


14. ... 


.89 


17.0 


.92 


17.9 


1.40 


34.2 


31 


1.38 


33.5 


1.38 


33.5 






15 


1.22 


27.7 


.80 


14.7 


1.37 


33.1 




























16 


1.17 


25.9 


1.02 


20.8 


1.36 


32.8 


Mean . . 




23.6 




27.4 




31.8 


17 


1.21 


27.4 


1.39 


33.8 


1.36 


32.8 

















NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch below Hobson Creek, 1907. 



29 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Tnlv 2 


Feet. 
1.60 
2.08 
2.30 


Sec-ft. 
24.8 
39.1 
46.8 


July 24 


Feet. 
2.38 
2.38 


Sec.-ft. 
49.4 




September 27 


52.0 


July 19 


1 









Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch below Hobson Creek, 



190", 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.63 
1.60 
1.74 
2.10 
2.10 
2.05 
2.03 
2.09 
2.14 
2.10 
2 10 
2.10 
2.10 
2.10 
2.30 
2.29 
2.31 
2.32 
2.31 
2.30 
2.30 
2.33 
2.38 
2.38 
2.34 
2.38 
2.46 
2.45 
2.37 
2.38 

• 2.49 


Sec.-ft. 
25. 5 
24.9 
28.3 
40.0 
40.0 
38.4 
37.7 
39.7 
41.5 
40.0 
40.0 
40.0 
40.0 
40.0 
47.4 
47.0 
47.8 
48.2 
47.8 
47.4 
47.4 
48.5 
50.4 
50.4 
48.9 
50.4 
53.5 
53.1 
50.1 
50.4 
54.7 


Feet. 
2.46 
2.36 
2.36 
2.27 
2.25 
2.11 
2.06 
1.98 
2.04 
1.95 
1.89 
1.89 
1.86 
1.93 
1.83. 

• 2.03 
2.33 
2.32 
2.31 
2.31 
2.34 
2.32 
2.30 
2.29 
2.34 
2.39 
2.39 
2.39 
2.40 
2.40 
2.40 


Sec.-ft. 
53.5 
49.7 
49.7 
46.3 
45.5 
40.4 
38.7 
36.0 
38.0 
35.5 
33.0 
33.0 
32.1 
34.3 
31.0 
37.7 
48.5 
48.2 
47.8 
47.8 
48.9 
48.2 
47.4 
47.0 
48.9 
50.8 
50.8 
50.8 
51.2 
51.2 
51.2 


Feet. 
2.40 
2.39 
2.39 
2.40 
2.39 
-2.38 
2.34 
2.34 
2.38 
2.45 


Sec.-ft. 
. 51.2 


2 






50.8 


3 






50.8 


4 






51.2 


5 






50.8 


6 






50.4 


7 






48.9 


8 






48.9 


9 . 






50.4 


10 






53.1 


11 









12 






2.33 
2.40 
2.37 
2.30 
2.30 
2.30 
2.31 
2.31 
2.34 
2.33 
2.32 
2.33 
2.38 
2.35 
2.37 
2.37 
2.33 
2.35 
2.37 


48.5 


13 .. 






51.2 


14 






50.1 


15 






47.4 


16 






47.4 


17 






47.4 


18 






47.8 


19 




47.8 


20 




48.9 


21 




48.5 


22 






48.2 


23 






48.5 


24 






50.4 


25 






49.3 


26 ; 






50.1 


27 






50.1 


28 


1.68 
1.64 
1.60 


26.7 
25.8 
25.0 


48.5 


29 


49.3 


30 


50.1 


31 


















25.8 




43.8 




45.3 




47.9 















Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch at flume, 1906-7. 



Date. 



1906 

July 4 

July 27 

August 2 

September 11 . . . 
September 25 . . . 
September 26. . . 



height. 



Feet. 
0.95 
1.08 
.81 
1.50 
1.85 
1.65 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
29.8 
36.5 
28.3 
43.9 
58.2 
48.5 



Date. 



1907, 

July 2 

July 3 

July 19 

July 23 

August 10 

August 29 

September 28. . 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.58 
1.51 
1.99 
2.09 
1.63 
2.05 
2.02 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
36 
32 
50 
55 
33 
51 
50 



30 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Miocene ditch at flume, 1906-7. 





1906. 


1907. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


I 

03 

o 


o3 
o 

03 

s 


i 

1 

If 


q5 

A 
O 
03 

s 


4J 

CO 


a5 
03 

■s 

03 

5 


i 

§0 

03 

o 


M 

o 

03 

s 


S3 
bo 


03 

o 

03 

5 


1 
3 

03 
of 

o 


& 

o 

03 

s 


1 


Feet. 

0.98 

.95 

.92 

1.00 

1.08 

1.09 

1.12 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

.79 

1.10 

1.26 

1.29 

1.28 

1.39 

1.35 

1.35 

1.28 

1.19 

1.16 

1.11 

1.19 

1.09 

1.26 

1.17 

1.07 

.98 

.95 

.91 

.88 


Sec.-ft. 
31.6 
30.8 
29.9 
32.1 
34.3 
34.5 
35.3 






26.4 
34.8 
39.1 
39.9 
39.7 
42.6 
41.6 
41.6 
39.7 
37.2 
36.4 
35.1 
37.2 
34.5 
39.1 
36.7 
34 
31.6 
30.8 
29.7 
28.9 


Feet. 

0.82 

.81 

.84 

.89 

.90 

.91 

.93 

.98 

.90 

.88 

1.01 

1.13 

1.23 

1.02 

.94 

.92 

.91 

.87 

.86 

1.10 

1.29 

1.28 

1.32 

1.40 

1.44 

1.55 

1.34 

1.46 

1.51 

1.56 

1.50 


Sec.-ft. 
27.2 
27 

27.8 
29.1 
29.4 
29.7 
30.2 
31.6 
29.4 
28.9 
32.4 
35.6 
38.3 
32.6 
30.5 
29.9 
29.7 
28.6 
28.3 
34.8 
39.9 
39.7 
40.7 
42.9 
44 
47 
41.3 
44.5 
45.9 
47.3 
45.6 


Feet. 
1.71 
1.71 
1.70 
1.70 
1.70 
1.69 
1.66 
1.68 
1.63 
1.54 
1.49 
1.46 
1.45 
1.41 
1.40 
1.34 
1.31 
1.47 
1.48 
1.52 
1.58 
1.65 
1.61 
1.60 
1.71 
1.63 
1.75 
1.76 
1.79 
1.80 


Sec.-ft. 
51.5 
51.5 
51.2 
51.2 
51.2 
50.9 
50.1 
50.6 
49.2 
46.7 
45.3 
44.5 
44.2 
43.2 
42.9 
41.3 
40.5 
44.8 
45.1 
46.2 
47.8 
49.8 
48.7 
48.4 
51.5 
49.2 
52.6 
52.9 
53.7 

. 54 


Feet. 
1.56 
1.56 
1.56 
1.74 
1.75 
1.75 
1.70 
1.77 
1.80 
1.86 
1.77 
1.80 
1.85 
1.85 
1.92 
1.80 
1.95 
1.95 
1.95 
1.95 
2.00 
2.00 
2.02 
1.99 
2.01 
2.05 
2.08 
2.06 
2.04 
2.00 
2.03 


Sec.-ft. 
33.5 
33.5 
33.5 
39.6 
40.0 
40.0 
38.0 
40.8 
42.0 
44.4 
41.0 
42.0 
44.0 
44.0 
46.8 
42.0 
48.0 
48.0 
48.0 
48.0 
50.0 
50.0 
50.8 
49.6 
50.4 
52.0 
53.2 
52.4 
51.6 
50.0 
51.2 


Feet. 
2.05 
2.00 
1.92 
1.86 
1.82 
1.78 
1.70 
1.68 
1.69 
1.63 
1.58 
1.56 
1.54 
1.58 
1.50 
1.71 
1.96 
1.95 
1.92 
1.94 
1.95 
1.93 
1.92 
1.92 
1.95 
2,00 
2.04 
2.01 
2.04 
2.06 
2.03 


Sec.-ft. 
52.0 
50.0 
46.8 
44.4 
42.8 
41.2 
38.0 
37.3 
37.7 
35.6 
34.0 
33.5 
32.9 
34.0 
31.8 
38.4 
48.4 
48.0 
46.8 
47.6 
48.0 
47.2 
46.8 
46.8 
48.0 
50.0 
51.6 
50.4 
51.6 
52.4 
51.2 


Feet. 
2.02 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 
1.99 
1.98 
2.04 
2.10 
(a) 
1.98 
2.02 
2.12 
2.10 
2.10 
2.10 
2.11 
2.12 
2.10 
2.13 
2.08 
2.04 
2.09 
2.09 
2.08 
2.08 
2.03 
2.03 
2.04 


Sec.-ft. 
50.8 


2 . 


50.0 


3... 


50.0 


4 


50.0 


5 


50.0 


6 


50.0 


7 


49.6 


8 


49.2 


9 


51.6 


10: 


54.0 


11 . 





12.. 


49.2 


13 . 


50.8 


14 


54.8 


15 


54.0 


16 


54.0 


17 


54.0 


18 


54.4 


19 


54.8 


20 


54.0 


21.. 


55.2 


22 


53. 2 


23 


51 . 6 


24 


53.6 


25 . 


53. 6 


26 


53.2 


27 


53.2 


28 


51.2 


29 


51.2 


30 . 


51.6 


31 


















6 31.8 




35.2 ' 

i 


48.4 





45.1 




44.0 




50.4 









a Ditch broken by heavy rains. & For 28 daj^s, 35.2 second-feet. 

Note.— About 28 second-feet turned in June 28, 1907. 

Discharge measurements of Miocene ditch below the Ex, 1907. 



Date. 



Glacier 
branch. 



Dexter 
branch. 



Total. 



June 26... 

July 6 

July 19.... 
September 



Sec.-ft. 

8.8 

27.6 

31.5 

34.3 



Sec.-ft. 
0. 

16.0 
14.0 
13.0 



Src.-ft. 
8.8 
43.6 
45. 5 
47.3 



JETT CREEK DITCH. 



The Jett Creek ditch was constructed during 1906 to divert water 
from Jett and Copper creeks over the Nugget divide. In 1906 the 
water was turned in from Copper Creek July 20 and from Jett Creek 
August 18, and was turned out September 25. The ditch carries 
the total flow of these creeks above the intake up to a maximum of 
about 10 second-feet. In 1907 a gage was established below Copper 
Creek and read by A. D. Jett, 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



31 



Discharge measurements on Jett Creek ditch at outlet, 1906-7. 



Date. 



1906. 



July 21 

August 11 

August 29 

August 31 

September 2 . 
September 7 . 
September 10 . 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
1 2.4 
.8 
4.6 
7.3 
9.2 
7.2 
5.3 



Date. 



1906. 



September 14. 



July 31.... 
Do.... 
Do... 
Do... 



1907. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.59 

1.38 

1.21 

.75 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
3. 



8.1 
5.3 
3.6 
0.0 



Daily gage height and discharge of Jett Creek ditch, 1907. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


I 

bo 

O 


6 
m 

s 


i 

<d 
bo 

o 


m 
ft 


% 

A 
bo 
O 


ft 


§ 

CD 
A 

bo 

O 


9 

a> 

cS 

1 ■ 
ft 


I 

A 

a> 

§P 

O 


a3 
bp 

o3 

o 

ft / 


I 

! 


6 
ho 

a 

o 
to 

ft 


1. .. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.59 
1.50 
1.45 
1.40 
1.35 
1.33 
1.33 
1.33 
1.25 
1.25 
1.25 
1.25 
1.30 
1.30 
1.30 
1.55 
1.50 


Sec.-ft. 
8.1 
6.9 
6.2 
5.6 
5.0 
4.8 
4.8 
4.8 
3.9 
3.9 
3.9 
3.9 
4.4 
4.4 
4.4 
7.6 
6.9 


Feet. 
1.50 
1.50 
1.50 
1.45 
1.45 
1.45 
1.45 
1.50 
1.60 

"i.60" 

1.60 
1.60 


Sec.-ft. 
6.9 
6.9 
6.9 
6.2 
6.2 
6.2 
6.2 
6.9 
8.2 


8.2 
8.2 
8.2 


18 

19 

20....... 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

Mean . . 


Feet. 
1.18 
1.19 
1.30 
1.42 
1.22 
1.32 
1.38 
1.40 
1.45 
1.45 
1.42 
1.45 
1.50 
1.59 


Sec.-ft. 
3.2 
3.3 
4.4 
5.9 
3.6 
4.6 
5.4 
5.6 
6.2 
6.2 
5.9 
6.2 
6.9 
8.1 


Feet, 
1.60 
1.60 
1.55 
1.50 
1.45 
1.45 
1.50 
1.50 
1.45 
1.50 
1.55 
1.55 
1.50 
1.50 


Sec.-ft. 
8.2 
8.2 
7.6 
6.9 
6.2 
6.2 
6.9 
6.9 
6.2 
6.9 
7.6 
7.6 
6.9 
6.9 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2. .. . 










3. .. . 










4 










5 










6 










7 










8 










9 










10 










11 










12 


1.15 
1.35 
1.32 
1.15 
1.20 
1.15 


3.0 
5.0 
4.6 
3.0 
3.4 
3.0 






13 






14 






15 






16 








4.9 




6.1 




6.1 


17 

















GRAND CENTRAL DITCH. 



The completed portion of the Grand Central ditch diverted water 
from Nugget Creek at an elevation of 785 feet from June 27 to Sep- 
tember 29, 1906, and from July 9 to October 2, 1907. In 1907 a 
gage was installed just below Nugget Creek and read by A. D. Jett. 
The entire flow of the creek was diverted except on September 11 
and 12 and possibly a few other days of high water. For measure- 
ments during 1906 see page 50. 

Discharge measurements of Grand Central ditch, 1907. 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July9 


Feet. 
1.39 
1.28 


Sec.-ft. 
5.4 
3.7 


July 9 


Feet. 
1.18 
1.47 


Sec.-ft. 
1.27 


Do 


Do. 


6.6 









32 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 190G-L907. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Grand Central ditch, 1907. 





July. 


August. 


September. 




July. 


August. 


September. 




4-> 




+j 






L 


+j 




^ 




+j 






A 




A 




A 






,0 




A 




A 




Day. 


bo 


bo 


% 


be 


% 


be 


Day. 


& 


bo 


bo 


g. 


& 


*n 
































A 


oS 


A 


oS 


A 


oS 




a 


oS 


A 


oS 


A 


oS 




03 

bo 


-s 


£> 


1 




€ 




03 

bo 


■s 


03 

bo 


■s 


'9 


* 
































O 


A 


P 


ft 


o 


ft 




O 


ft 


O 


ft 


O 


ft 




Feet. 


See.-/*. 


Feel. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 




Feet. 


Sr.c.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1 






1.34 
1.34 
1.32 
1. 32 
1.32 


4.4 
4.4 
4.0 
4.0 
4.0 


1.50 
1.50 
1.45 
1.45 
1.45 


.8.0 
8.0 
6.8 
6.8 
6.8 


18 

19 

20 

21 

22 


1.40 
1.46 
1.48 
1.65 
1.47 


5.6 
7.0 
7.5 
12.0 
7.3 


1.55 
1.55 
1.60 
1.60 
1.55 


9.3 
9.3 
10.6 
10.6 
9.3 


1.70 
1.60 
1.60 
1.60 
1.55 


13.4 


9 






10.6 


3 






10.6 


4 






10.6 


5 






9.3 


6 






1.30 


3.6 


1.45 


6.8 


23 


1.48 


7.5 


1.50 


8.0 


1.55 


9.3 


7 






1.30 
1.28 
1.28 


3.6 
3.3 
3.3 


1.45 
1.50 
1.60 


6.8 
8.0 
10.6 


24 

25 

26 


1.46 
1.40 
1.38 


7.0 
5.6 
5.2 


1.55 
1.50 
1.50 


9.3 
8.0 
8.0 


1.55 
1.50 
1.50 


9.3 


8 






8.0 


9 


1.45 


6.8 


8.0 


10 


1.34 


4.4 


1.25 


2.8 


1.70 


13.4 


27 


1.36 


4.8 


1.50 


8.0 




8.0 


11 


1.34 


4.4 


1.25 


2.8 







28 


1.33 


4.2 


1.50 


8.0 




8.0 


12 


1.38 


5.2 


1.28 


3.3 







29 


1.32 


4.0 


1.55 


9.3 




8.0 


13 


1.38 


5.2 


1.27 


3.1 


1.70 


13.4 


30 


1.32 


4.0 


1.50 


8.0 




8.0 


14 


1.45 


6.8 


1.30 


3.6 


1.70 


13.4 


31 


1.34 


4.4 


1.50 


8.0 






15 

16 


1.35 

1.35 


4.6 
4.6 


1.30 
1.50 


3.6 
8.0 


1.70 
1.70 


13.4 

13.4 
















Mean . . 




5.7 




6.2 




9.0 


17 


1.31 


3.8 


1.50 


8.0 


1.70 


13.4 

















DAVID CREEK DITCH. 

David Creek enters Nome River from the east a short distance 
below the intake of the Miocene ditch. It has a well-sustained flow 
which is diverted at an elevation of about 590 feet by a ditch that 
discharges into Nome River just above the Miocene intake. In 1906 
the water was running in this ditch before gagings were made on Nome 
River. Except during extreme high water, it carried the entire 
flow of David Creek up to its capacity of about 14 second-feet. 
When the ditch was cleaned out in 1907 it was enlarged from 4 feet 
to 5 feet on the bottom, increasing its capacity to nearly 20 second- 
feet. The gage was read by employees of the Miocene Ditch Com- 
pany during August, 1906, and July to September, 1907. 

Discharge measurements of David Creek ditch, 1906-7. 



Date. 



July 3 

July 29.... 
August 3.. 
August 23 . 
August 29. 

Do.... 

Do.... 

Do.... 



1906. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



0.51 
.41 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
"3.5 
6.4 
4.4 
7.9 
5.4 
7.6 
10.1 
13.7 



Date. 



1906 

August 29 

Do 

1907 

July 17 

July 25 

Do 

August 4 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.81 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
13.7 
11.4 



8.9 
13.0 
13.7 
11.5 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Daily gage height and discharge of David Creek ditch, 1906-7. 
[Drainage area at point of diversion, 4.3 square miles.] 



33 





1906. 


1907. 


Day. 


August. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
0.75 
.70 
.80 
.69 
.67 
.62 
.60 
,56 
.56 
.52 
.52 
.52 
,52 
.50 
.50 
.80 
.82 
.80 
.90 
.90 
.95 
.95 
.72 
.70 
.72 
.72 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 


Sec.-ft. 
12.4 
11.6 
13.2 
11.5 
11.2 
10.5 
10.2 
9.6 
9.6 
9.1 
9.1 
9.1 
9.1 
8.9 
8.9 
13.2 
13.5 
13.2 
14.9 
14.9 
15.8 
15.8 
11.9 
11.6 
11.9 
11.9 
12.4 
12.4 
12.4 
12.4 
12.4 


Feet. 
70 


Sec.-ft. 
11.6 


2 












65 
80 
80 
72 
70 
68 
60 
60 
50 
55 


10.9 


3 










13.2 


4 


0.35 
.35 
.35 
.42 
.38 
.37 
.37 
.38 
.40 
.38 
.35 
.34 
.33 
.39 
.31 
.29 
.40 
.38 
.50 

.48 
.54 

.77 

.40 
.41 

.78 
.80 


4.4 
4.4 
4.4 
5.8 
5.0 
4.8 
4.8 
5.0 
5.4 
5.0 
4.4 
4.3 
4.1 
5.2 
3.7 
3.3 
5.4 
5.0 
7.5 

7.1 
8.3 
13.2 

5.4 
5.6 
13.4 
13.8 






13.2 


5 






11.9 


6 






11.6 


7 






11.3 


8 






10.2 


9 






10.2 


10 






8.9 


11 






9.5 


12 









13 













14 













15 













16 






2? 







17 


0.50 
.52 
.50 
.60 
.60 
.60 

.80 
.80 
.80 

.65 
.75 
.75 
.75 


8.9 
9.1 
8.9 
10.2 
10.2 
10.2 

13.2 
13.2 
13.2 

10.9 
12.4 
12.4 
12.4 





18 




90 
99 

85 
85 
73 
68 


14.9 


19 


16.5 


20. 


14.0 


21 


14.0 


22 


12.1 




11.3 


24 . . 


10.6 






58 
57 
54 
50 
50 
45 


9.9 


26 


9.8 
9.4 


28... 


8.9 


29 


8.9 


30 


8.3 


31 














6.1 




11.3 




11.8 




9.0 















Note.— These discharges are believed to represent the total flow of the creek from August 3 to 20, 
1906, and from about July 23 to September 8, and September 19 to 30, 1907. 



SEEPAGE MEASUREMENTS ON MIOCENE DITCH. 

Measurements were made at different times at several points along 
the main ditch and also on the Jett Creek branch to determine the 
loss by seepage from the different sections of the ditch. The dis- 
charge of the branches and principal feeders was found by measuring 
the flow in the ditch above and below them. The figures obtained 
for the section between points of measurement were therefore the 
resultant of the gain from creeks too small to measure and the loss 
by seepage and leakage. The measurements of July 3 to 4 and 
July 27 were made at periods of extreme low water, and show a much 
larger loss than those of September 11 to 12, when there was much 
more water entering. On the latter date the ditch was. gaining 
along much of its course. These measurements are of value to ditch 
builders in showing the losses which may be expected in ditches in 
frozen countries. 

35283— irr 218—08 3 



34 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Seepage measurements of Miocene ditch, 1906. 

MAIN DITCH FROM NOME RIVER TO GLACIER CREEK. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gain. 


Loss. 


July 3 

Do 


Nome River intake 


Sec.-ft. 
21 

15.8 
20.5 
31.0 
28.1 
29.8 
27.9 
28.8 
28 

25.7 
26.2 
26.0 
23.7 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Above Hobson 




5.2 


July 4 


do 






Do 


Below Hobson 


10.5 




Do 


Above flume 


2.9 


Do 


Below flume 


1.7 
""."9" 




Do 


Above Ex 


1.9 


Do 


Above tunnel 




July 27 


Nome River intake 




Do 




2.3 


Do 




.5 




Do 


Below Dorothy 


.2 


Do 


Above Hobson 




2.3 




Below Hobson 


14.3 




Do 


38.0 
1.7 




Do 


Grouse Creek branch 














39.7 












Do 


36.5 

28.3 


3.2 




do 








Glacier branch 






Do 


13.0 
13.3 




Do 


Dexter branch 








Total 








26.3 


2.0 










September 11 . . 
Do 


29.8 
30.7 
30.3 
30 




Black Point 


.9 




Do 




.4 


Do 


Above Hobson 




.3 




Below Hobson 


14.4 




Do 


44.4 
2.4 




Do 








Total above flume 








46.8 












Do 


43.9 
a 43 


2.9 


September 12.. 


.do 






Glacier Fork at Ex 






Do 


30.3 
15.3 




Do... 


Dexter Fork at Ex 








Total at Ex 


2.6 






45.6 






Glacier Fork at Ex 




September 13. . 
Do . 


a 29. 6 

29.4 

6.9 

6.4 








.2 


July 29 

Do... 












.5 











JETT CREEK BRANCH. 



September 10.. 


Copper Creek ditch, intake 


2.5 






Copper Creek ditch, outlet into Jett Creek ditch 






Do 


1.8 
4.2 


0.7 


Do 








Total... 








6.0 






Jett Creek ditch, below junction with Copper Creek 
ditch 






Do 


5.7 
5.3 


.3 


Do 






.4 











a Estimated. 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 



35 



The following measurements were made at the points stated during 
the two years: 

Miscellaneous measurements of Miocene ditch, 1906-7. 



Date. 



Point of measurement. 



Discharge 



1906. 

August 23 

September 25. 

1907. 

July 2 

July 20 

July 31 

August 20 

September 28 . 



Above Dorothy Creek siphon. 
do 



Grouse Creek branch 

Above Snow Gulch 

Copper Creek branch 

Above Dorothy Creek siphon . 
Grouse Creek branch 



Sec. -ft. 
39.5 
41.4 



11.7 
31.9 

3.5 
40.9 

5.8 



CAMPION DITCH AT BLACK POINT. 

The Campion ditch diverts water from Buffalo Creek at an eleva- 
tion of 610 feet. Its lower end terminates in Dorothy Creek, into 
which it discharges. The ditch has a width of 6 feet on the bottom 
and 9 feet on top, is 2 feet deep, and has a mean velocity of 2 feet 
per second when running full. The water was turned in at 1 p. m., 
July 6, 1906. The ditch broke near its outlet at 7 a. m., July 8. 
It was repaired and water turned in again on the 19th. All water 
was turned out from 9.30 p. m. August 12 to 2.30 p. m. August 13. 

It ran continuously from July 7 to September 29, 1907, except 
September 23, when the water was turned out on account of slush ice. 

Measurements were taken on the ditch in order to determine the 
natural flow of Nome River below the junction of Buffalo and Deep 
Canyon creeks. 

Discharge measurements of Campion ditch at Black Point, 1906-7. 



Date. 



1906 

July7 

July 20 

July 21 

August 2 

August 11 

August 18 

August 23 

August 31 



Gage 
height. 


Dis- 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


0.80 


11.9 


.60 


8.9 


.70 


10.2 


.67 


9.7 


1.36 


27.5 


.76 


12.0 


1.10 


19.6 


1.00 


16.8 



Date. 



1907 

July 10 

July 12 

July 17 

August 4 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

0.88 
.35 
.79 

1.04 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 

9.9 

2.7 

8.2 

13.9 



36 



WATEE SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Campion ditch, 1906-7. 
[Drainage area at point of diversion, 8.2 square miles.] 





1906. 


1907. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Si 
6p 

Si 
a> 
too 

o3 

O 


ai 

bfi 

o3 
Si 
o 
to 

s 


§ 
33 
si 

03 

bo 

o 


Si 

o 
xn 

A 


2 

ho 

3 
si 

03 
of 

o 


oi 
o3 

■8 

02 

s 


si 
be 
'53 
si 

03 

be 

03 
O 


o5 

bf) 

o 

VI 

s 


3 
w> 

'3 

si 

03 

be 

o3 
O 


o5 

• o3 

■si 
o 

Vj 

s 


.be 

'3 

si 

03 
faO 

03 
O 


03 

o3 
si 
o 

P. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

0.69 
.68 
.65 
.62 
.56 
.61 

!70 

.73 

.77 

1.13 

1.05 

1.09 

1.02 

.92 

.80 

.80 

.78 

.75 

.80 

.76 

1.01 

1.16 

.99 

.93 

1.15 

1.16 

1.14 

1.09 

1.00 

.99 


Sec.-ft. 
10.1 
10.0 
9.5 
9.0 
8.2 
8.9 
10.1 
10.3 
10.9 
11.7 
20.4 
18.2 
19.2 
17.5 
15.0 
12.3 
12.3 
11.9 
11.3 
12.3 
11.5 
17.2 
21.3 
16.8 
15.2 
21.0 
21.3 
20.7 
19.2 
17.0 
16.8 


Feet. 

0.98 

.90 

1.02 

1.04 

1.00 

1.02 

.96 

.96 

1.00 

1.08 

1.07 

1.02 

1.06 

1.02 

.98 

.93 

.92 

.90 

1.10 

.98 

.50 

.60 

.75 

.72 

.91 

.96 

1.02 

.98- 

.95 

.94 


Sec.-ft. 
16.5 
14.5 
17.5 
18.0 
17.0 
17.5 
16.0 
16.0 
17.0 
19.0 
18.8 
17.5 
18.5 
17.5 
16.5 
15.2 
15.0 
14.5 
19.5 
16.5 
7.5 
8.7 
11.3 
10.7 
14.8 
16.0 
17.5 
16.5 
15.8 
15.5 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
l.OO 
1.00 
1.00 


Sec.-ft. 
12.8 
12.8 
12.8 
12.5 
11.5 
10.3 
10.8 
, 11.8 
12.3 
10.3 
10.3 
11.3 
11.3 
12.3 
10.1 
15.1 
12.5 
15.4 
13.1 
12.3 
13.6 
13.9 
13.4 
13.4 
12.8 
15.4 
15.1 
14.5 
14.2 
16.3 
15.1 


Feet. 

1.10 

1.12 

1.12 

1.10 

1.06 

1.11 

1.08 

1.06 

1.16 

.82 

.65 

.93 

1.00 

.91 

.97 

.92 

.97 

1.01 

1.06 

1.18 

.98 

.99 

".'98' 

.99 

1.06 

1.04 

1.03 

.98 


Sec.-ft. 
15.7 


2 










16.3 


3 










16.3 


4 










.99 


15.7 


5 










.95 

.90 

.92 

.96 

.98 

.90 

.90 

.94 

.94, 

.98 

.89 

1.08 

.99 

1.09 

1.01 

.98 

1.03 

1.04 

1.02 

1.02 

1.00 

1.09 

1.08 

1.06 

1.05 

1.12 

1.08 


14.5 


6 






'o.'n" 

.58 
.80 
.81 
.66 
.52 
.77 
.69 
.66 
.73 
.70 
.95 
.'84 
.90 
.94 
.88 
.93 
-89 
.88 
.89 
.83 
.86 
.91 
1.05 
1.07 


""&.8 

5.1 

8.3 

8.5 

6.0 

4.4 

7.8 

6.5 

6.0 

7.1 

6.7 

11.5 

9.1 

10.3 

11.3 

9.9 

11.0 

10.1 

9.9 

10.1 

8.9 

9.5 

10.5 

14.2 

14.8 


16.0 


7 


0.88 


14.1 


15.1 


8 


14.5 


9 






17.4 


10 






8.7 


11 






5.9 


12 






11.0 


13 






12.8 


14 






10.5 


15 






12.0 


16 






10.8 


17 






12.0 


18 






13.1 


19 






14.5 


20 






18.0 


21 






12.3 


22 






12.5 


23 









24 






12.2 


25 


.92 
.78 
.75 
.82 
.78 
.76 
.72 


15.0 
11.9 
11.3 
12.7 
11.9 
11.5 
10.7 


12.5 


26 


14.5 


27 


13.9 


28 


13.6 


29 


12.2 


30 





31... 




















14.4 




15.8 




9.0 




12.9 


1 12.5 











SEWARD DITCH. 

The Seward ditch was built in 1905-6 to take water from Nome 
River just below Dorothy Creek, at an elevation of 407 feet, and con- 
vey it to Saturday Creek for use along the ancient beach line. Its 
total length is 38 miles. The water is conducted across Hobson and 
Clara creeks by 42-inch continuous stave-pipe siphons having lengths 
of 1,050 and 800 feet. A part of the flow of Hobson Creek is diverted 
by a branch ditch. a In 1907 a gage was established near the intake 
and read by the ditch walker. 

Measurements to determine the flow and also the seepage of this 
ditch were made as follows: 

Seepage measurements of Seward ditch, 1906. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gain. 


Loss. 


July 29 

Do 

Do 

Do 




Sec.-ft. 

19.7 

20.6 

4.0 


Sec.-ft. 


Sec.-ft. 


Above Clara Creek 


0.9 








Above Trout Creek ... 






24.6 
22.0 


2.6 









o For measurements of the Hobson Creek branch, see page 24. 



NOME RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Other measurements were made at the intake as follows: 

Discharge measurements of Seward ditch at intake, 1906-7. 



37 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



1906. Feet 

August 18 

August 30 

September 13 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 

25 

26 

a 32 



Date. 



1907 

July 11 

July 18 

July 24 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.55 

.72 
.82 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
19.1 
23.2 
25.7 



a Computed from gage reading. 
Daily gage height and discharge of Seward ditch at intake, 1907. 





July. 


August. S< 


iptember. 




July. 


August. 


September. 












p 




-p 




p 




+3 




Day. 




ft 


.tap 


be 


| 


oJ 


Day. 


53 


oJ 


a 

SO 

53 


03 


53 


03 






o3 


& 


c3 


3 


o3 




A 


o3 


3 


o3 


A 


03 




03 


■s 


■ 03 




§. 


o 




& 


| 


03 


■s 


03 


■3 








o3 










o3 














o 


ft 


o 


ft 


3 


ft 




O 


ft 


3 


ft / 


• o 


ft 




Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. F 


eet. 


Sec.-ft. 




Feet. 


Sec.-ft. F 


eet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1 






0.85 
,85 

.85 
.80 
.74 
.72 
.71 
.72 
.74 
.72 
.72 


27.2 

27.2 

27.2 

25.4 

23.6 

23.0 

22.8 

23.0 

23.6 

23.0 

23.0 .. 


90 

89 
89 
89 
88 
88 
89 
88 
85 
81 


29.0 
28.6 
28.6 
28.6 
•28.3 
28.3 
28.6 
28.3 
27.2 
25.8 



18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 


0.70 

.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.80 
.82 
.82 
.88 


22.5 

23.8 

23.8 

23.8 

23.8 

23.8 

23.8 

25.4 

26.2 

26.2 

28.3 


85 
84 
84 
90 
84 
87 
87 
90 
90 
85 
85 


27.2 
26.9 
26.9 
29.0 
26.9 
27.9 
27.9 
29.0 
29.0 
27.2 
27.2 


0.85 
.82 
.82 
.78 
.78 
.80 
.80 
.80 
.80 
,80 
.75 


27.2 


2 






26.2 


3 






26.2 


4 






24.8 


5 






24.8 


6 






25.4 


7 






25.4 


8 






25.4 


9... 






25.4 


10 






25.4 


11 


o:oo 


20.1 


23.8 


12 


.62 


20.5 


.71 


22.8 


82 


26.2 


29 


.82 


26.2 


87 


27.9 


.74 


23.6 


13 


.65 


21.3 


.78 


24.8 i 


85 


27.2 


30 


.85- 


27.2 


89 


28.6 


.75 


23.8 


14 


.65 


21.3 


.77 


24.5 


84 


26.9 


31 


.85 


27.2 


89 


28.6 






15 


.70 


22.5 


.71 


22.8 


84 


26.9 




























16 


.70 


22.5 


.88 


28.3 


84 


26.9 


Mean.. 




23.9 .. 




26.2 




25.7 


17 


.70 


22.5 


.88 


28.3 


85 


27.2 






i 











PIONEER DITCH. 

The Pioneer ditch, begun in 1905 and completed in 1907, has its 
intake on Nome River just below the mouth of Christian Creek, about 
3 miles below the Seward intake and at an elevation of about 330 feet. 
It has a total length of 38 miles and extends to Anvil Creek. There 
are three siphons, composed of two lines of 30-inch riveted steel 
pipes — one 545 feet long across Hobson Creek, one 1,050 feet long 
across Banner Creek, and one 755 feet long across Dexter Creek. 
Several narrow gulches and gullies eroded by waste water from the 
other ditches are crossed by flumes. 

Daily gage heights and discharges of the Pioneer ditch at the 
intake and of Nome River are given on page 22. 



38 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. ' 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

On account of its elevation and well-sustained flow, Grand Central 
River offers one of the most valuable unused water supplies of Seward 
Peninsula. The drainage area of this stream, which is about 12 miles 
long and 2 miles wide, is almost surrounded by ridges of the Sawtooth 
Range (Kigluaik Mountains), having elevations of 1,500 to 4,000 
feet. (See PL VI, A and B.) 

The river is formed near the foot of Mount Osborn, at an elevation 
of about 700 feet, by the junction of North and West forks, and flows 
in a southerly direction into Salmon Lake. From the forks to Salmon 
Lake the river has a fall of about 300 feet, and at high stages spreads 
over a wide gravelly bed. On either side there is a little bottom 
land, from which the mountains rise abruptly. 

The principal tributaries of Grand Central River below the forks 
are Gold Run and Rainbow Creek from the east, and Thompson, 
Thumit, Nugget, Jett, and Morning Call creeks from the west. These 
tributary streams, with the exception of Nugget Creek, drain short, 
steep-sided gulches. They have considerable fall and are fed from 
melting snow. 

In order to make the water from this drainage basin available for 
use* at Nome it has to be diverted over the Nugget divide, which has 
an elevation of 785 feet. One such diversion has been made from 
Jett Creek and Copper Creek, from which water is taken by the Jett 
Creek ditch into the Miocene ditch. 

The Miocene Ditch Company is building a ditch which will tap 
West Fork above the mouth of the Crater Lake outlet and North 
Fork at an elevation of about 850 feet. This ditch will extend down 
the west side of the valley, crossing and tapping Thompson and Thu- 
mit creeks, and will pass over the Nugget divide, where it will be 
taken up by the main Miocene ditch and carried to Glacier and Anvil 
creeks. 

The Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company has started from 
Crater Lake a 42-inch continuous wood-pipe line, which will extend 
along the south side of the valley over the Nugget divide and down 
Nome Valley to Anvil Mountain. The company plans to dam and 
use Crater Lake as a storage resorvoir, into which the waters from 
North and West forks will be diverted by lateral pipes. Other laterals 
will carry the water of Gold Run and Thompson Creek into the main 
pipe line. Measurements made in this drainage are shown on the 
following pages. 

NORTH FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. 

North Fork of Grand Central River rises in a cirque at the base of 
Mount Osborn, which is surrounded by almost perpendicular moun- 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. VI 




A. UPPER GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE. 





] 

i^w t- . . "*1 '^ r« -•' -,- 


x- .; • - . '- "".A.-^ . ■ "aft; 

i ■ — — ^- — — . • ■•■<•• - 


' ■ .-'■ ■ , 

• 

■ "Tv. •.*>• . v*. , . > . ; . ..." 



B. MOUNT OSBORN, JULY, 1906. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



39 



tains rising from 1 ; 000 to 3,000 feet above the bed of the stream. 
This cirque contains a small glacier, the melting of which maintains 
a very steady flow. The flow is increased by a large spring at an 
elevation of about 860 feet. 

Discharge measurements on this stream in 1906 were made at ele- 
vations of about 750 feet and 1,030 feet, points which give the flow at 
the ditch and pipe intakes, respectively. The bed is very rough and 
it is difficult to obtain satisfactory measuring sections. Gage heights 
were read at the time of the measurements by measuring down from 
reference points on rocks. 

In 1907 a gaging station was established about 100 yards above 
the junction of the forks to take the place of the one at the ditch 
intake. The increase in flow between the stations is small. The 
gage was read by Cornelius Edmunds. 

Daily gage height and discharge of North Fork of Grand Central River near ditch intake, 

1906. 



[Elevation, 750 feet; drainage area, 5.4 square miles.] 








July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet.- 


Sec.-ft. 
23 
(23) 
(23) 
(25) 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

30 

30 

30 

32 

32 

29 
6 32 

33 

31 

33 

32 

27 

27 

28 

28 
a 27 
6 25 

27 

25 

27 
(32) 
(36) 
(60) 
6 37 

40 
(40) 
(67) 

67 

71 

54 

48 . 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
44 


2 






0.92 


6 44 


3. 






38 


4 








38 


5 








40 


6 










37 


7 






0.81 




33 


8 








31 


9 








.76 


6 27 


10 : 








28 


11 


1.10 


a 67 






27 


12 






(26) 


13 










26 


14 










27 


15 










26 


16 






.76 
.74 




25 


17 








25 


18 








27 


19 












20 




40 
(45) 
a 38 

42 

61 
a 47 
6 42 ■ 

45 

50 

38 

42 

28 








21 










22 


.85 




1.5 


6 c 120 


23 






24 




.85 






25 


.95 
.90 






26 








27 








28 










29 










30 










31 






















Mean 




<*39.9 
7.39 
4.67 




36.7 
6.80 

7.84 




«31. 6 


Run-off per square mile 








5.85 


Run-off depth in inches 






3.92 













a Measurements. 

6 Estimates based on gage readings. 



c Not included in mean. 
d 17 days. 



e 18 days. 



Note.— These values were obtained by subtracting the sum of the discharges at the West Fork and 
Crater Lake station from the flow below the forks. For the days for which this method does not give 
consistent results the discharges are based on the West Fork flow and are in parentheses. From July 
5 to 19 the flow did not fall below 40 second-feet. The flow on June 26 was 43 second-feet. 



40 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Discharge measurements of North Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. 

[Elevation 690 feet.] 



Date. 



July 8... 
July 16.. 
July 25.. 
July 26. . 
August 5 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.31 
1.19 
1.23 
1.20 
1.11 



Dis- 
charge 



Sec.-ft. 



Date. 



August 13... 
August 26... 
September 6. 
September 16 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.07 
1.36 
1.18 
1.44 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 



Daily gage height and discharge of North Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 6.9 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


i 

0) 
bO 
o3 

o 


c3 
XI 
o 

3 


x\ . 
so 
'3 
A 

03 

w> 

o3 

° 


o3 
o 

03 

s 


"8 

8P 

O 


1 

O 
CO 

s 


03 
of 

o 


o3 
X! 
o 

5 


+3 

be 
8 

03 

bo 

c3 
O 


0) 

o3 
o 

s 


M 

'8 

SP 

bo 

o 


o 
to 

5 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.16 
1.20 
1.15 
1.15 
1.12 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.08 
1.10 
1.10 
1.08 
1.11 
1.05 
1.34 
1.40 
1.35 


Sec.-ft. 
37 
42 
36 
36 
33 
31 
31 
31 
31 
29 
31 
31 
29 
32 
27 
68 
81 
70 


Fee*. 
1.32 
1.22 
1.14 
1.22 
1.25 
1.16 
1.10 
1.07 
1.50 
2.15 
2.10 
1.68 
1.52 
1.50 
1.49 
1.44 
1.40 
1.37 


Sec.-ft. 

64 

45 

35 

45 

50 

37 

31 

29 

102 

238 

194 

106 

72 

68 

66 

57 

49 

45 


19 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
50 
60 
80 
51 
50 
46 
45 
42 
41 
35 
32 
35 
37 
48.7 

7.06 

6.30 


Feel. 
1.28 
1.34 
1.44 
1.44 
1.41 
1.32 
1.30 
1.37 
1.38 
1.31 
1.74 
1.66 
1.42 


Sec-ft. 

56 
68 
89 

83 
64 
60 
75 
77 
G2 
152 
136 
85 
58.1 

8.42 

9.71 


1.32 
1.30 
1.29 
1.10 
1.18 


Sec.-ft. 
39 


2 






20 




36 


3 . 






21 




35 


4 .. 






22 




21 


5... 






23 




25 


6 






24 






7 






25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 :. 

31 


1.22 
1.20 
1.19 
1.14 
1.11 
1.14 
1.16 






8 


1.31 


62 
46 
50 
70 
60 
65 
50 
41 
41 
38 
42 






9 






10 


1.25 






11 






12 








13 








14 




Mean 




64.7 


15 




Run - off per 
square mile.. 

Run-off, depth 
in inches 




16 

17 


1.19 


9.38 


18 




8.02 









Note.— Channel conditions were changed during the high water of September 10, and a new rating 
table was used after that date. Discharges for days between July 8 and 25, when the gage was not 
read were obtained by the aid of a hydrograph. 

Daily discharge in second-feet of North Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake, 1906-7. 
[Elevation, 1,030 feet; drainage area, 2.3 square miles.] 



Day. 




1906. 




1907. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 


21 
21 
21 
22 


22 
22 
22 
24 
24 
21 
a 23 
25 
23 
25 
24 
20 
20 
21 


31 
a 31 
27 
27 
28 
26 
23 
22 
« 19 
20 
19 
17 
18 
19 


"a 42' 

37 
40 
56 
48 
52 
40 


30 
34 
29 
29 
a 27 
25 
25 
25 
25 
23 
23 
23 
22 
24 


46 


2.. 


32 


3 


25 


4 


32 


5 


36 


6. 




27 






22 


8 




21 


9 




74 


10 




171 


11. 




140 


12.. 




76 


13 




52 


14 




49 



a Measurements. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same percentage of the flow at 
the lower station, as was found on the dates of measurements. This varied from 70 to 90 per cent. 
Gagings on June 20, 1906, gave 30 second-feet, and on J line 26, 1906, 43 second-feet. The flow from July 5 
to 19, 1906, probably exceeded 35 second-feet. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 41 

Daity discharge in second-feet of North Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake, 

1 90 6-7— Continued. 



Day. 


1906. 


1907. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


15 




21 
20 

a 19 
20 
19 
20 
24 
27 
45 

a 28 
30 
30 
50 
50 
53 
40 
36 


18 
18 
17 
19 


33 
33 
30 
34 
40 
48 
64 
41 
40 
37 
37 
a 38 
33 
28 
26 
28 
30 


20 
51 
61 
52 
42 
51 
67 
67 
62 
48 

a 43 
54 
55 
44 

110 
98 
61 


47 


16 




a 41 


17 




35 


18 




32 


19 . 




28 


20 


31 
35 
30 
33 
48 
37 
a 33 
34 
38 
28 
32 
21 


26 


21 


25 


22 -... 


15 


23 


18 


24 




25 




26 




27 




28 




29 




30 




31 








Mean 


30.3 
7.86 


27.4 
11.9 
13.7 


22.2 
9.65 
6.46 


39.0 
16.9 
15.1 


43.5 

18.9 

„ 21.8 


46.5 




20.2 


Run-off, depth in inches 


17.3 







a Measurements. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same percentage of the flow 
at the lower station, as was found on the dates of measurements. This varied from 70 to 90 per cent. 
Gagings on June 20, 1906, gave 30 second-feet, and on June 26, 1906,43 second-feet. The flow from July 
5 to 19, 1906, probably exceeded 35 second-feet. 

A limestone spring at an elevation of 850 feet discharges into North 
Fork near the proposed ditch intake, and is the largest of a consider- 
able number of springs in the upper Grand Central Valley. The fol- 
lowing measurements of the flow of this spring were made in 1907: 
July 10, 3.8 second-feet; September 5, 7.4 second-feet. 



WEST FORK OF GRAND CENTRAL RIVER. 

West Fork of Grand Central River has its source in Mount Osborn, 
and flows between Mount Osborn and the high ridges which separate 
the Grand Central drainage from the Sinuk drainage. It is fed from 
snow storage for a greater part of the season, by limestone springs, 
and by Crater Lake, which lies at an elevation of 973 feet and has an 
area of about 106 acres. 

There is considerable glacial drift in the lower part of the basin 
containing several depressions, one having an area of nearly 5 acres. 
These depressions fill with water during a rain and gradually drain off 
through the gravel. 

Two gaging stations were established on the fork in 1906 at eleva- 
tions of 1,010 and 860 feet. The lower station is just above the 
outlet to Crater Lake and shows the flow at the proposed ditch intake. 
The other station was established to obtain the flow at the proposed 
pipe intake by comparison with the flow at the lower station. The 
flow was about 70 per cent of that at the lower station during the 
earlier part of the season of 1906. As the snow above the pipe intake 
melted away and the flow of the springs between the intakes in- 



42 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



creased, this percentage became about 35 for low water and 50 for 
higher stages. The cold weather in September checked the flow at 
high levels and reduced the percentage to 32. During 1907 the per- 
centages were almost the same as for the corresponding dates of 1906. 
In 1907 an additional station was established just above the forks, 
where the flow from Crater Lake is included. 



Discharge measurements of West Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. 

[Elevation, 690 feet.] 



Date. 



July 10.. 
July 16.. 
July 26.. 
August 5 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.88 
1.77 
1.74 
1.65 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 

107 

80 

77 

50 



Date. 



August 13... 
August 26... 
September 5. 
September 17 



height. 



Feet. 
1.61 
1.71 
1.62 
1.70 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 



Note. — These measurements were made by subtracting the flow of North Fork from that of the 
river below the forks, taking both from the rating curves of the two stations, all three gages being read 
at the same time. 



Daily gage height and discharge of West Fork of Grand Central River at the forks, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 7.7 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 




6 
o 




6 
o 


&t 

eg W> 

o © 


6 


ll 


03 




o 




H 3 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.72 
1.71 
1.70 
1.70 
1.65 
1.60 
1.60 
1.62 
1.64 
1.62 
1.62 
1.65 
1.62 
1.65 
1.62 
1.88 
2.00 
1.92 
1.88 


Sec.-ft. 
66 
64 
61 
61 
50 
42 
42 
45 
48 
45 
45 
50 
45 
50 
45 
112 
154 
125 
112 


Feet. 
1.82 
1.78 
1.63 
1.72 
1.68 
1.68 
1.76 
1.84 
2.07 
2.70 
2.37 
2.12 
1.82 
1.80 
1.80 
1.74 
1.70 
1.67 
1.62 


Sec.-ft. 

93 

82 

47 

66 

57 

57 

77 

99 

179 

406 

287 

197 

93 

87 

87 

71 

61 

54 

45 


20 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

100 

140 

90 

80 

76 

74 

74 

61 

50 

42 

57 

61 


Feet. 
1.78 
1.82 
1.78 
1.72 
1.65 
1.64 
1.63 
1.64 
1.65 
2.32 
2.38 
1.88 


Sec.-ft. 

82 

93 

82 

66 

50 

48 

47 

48 

50 
276 
291 
115 


Feet. 
1.61 
1.59 
1.54 
1.61 


Sec.-ft. 


2 






21 




41 


3 






22 




34 


4 






23 




44 


5 






24 






6 






25 

26 

27 

28 

29 


1.75 
1.75 
1.70 
1.65 
1.60 
1.68 
1.70 






7 










8 


1.93 


129 

95 
112 
125 

90 
95 

88 
80 
79 
70 
75 
85 






9 . 






10 

11 


1.88 






30 

31 

Mean 






12 
















14 






84.5 
11.0 
9.82 




81.0 
10.5 
12.1 




100 


15 




Run - off, 
square t 

Run-off, < 
in inche 


per 
nile . . . 
lepth 

3 




16 : 

17 


1.77 


13.0 


18 




11.1 


19 













Discharge measurements of West Fork of Grand Central River at ditch intake, 1906-7. 

[Elevation, 860 feet.] 



Date. 



June 19 

June 26 

July 1 

July 10.... 

July 11 

July 22.... 

July 24 

Jury 25.... 
August 6. . 
August 16. 



1906. 



height. 



Feet. 



1.65 
1. 53 
1.20 
1.41 
1.34 
1.12 
1.01 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
40. 
38 
28. 
115 
- 86 
38. 
58 
50 
30. 
23 



Date. 



1907 

July 8 

July 16 

July 26 

August 6 

August 25 

September 5 

September 16... 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.30 
1.18 
1.13 
1.01 
1.18 
1.18 
1.37 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



43 



Daily gage height and discharge of West Fork of Grand Central River at ditch intake, 

1906-7. 



[Elevation, 860 feet; drainage area, 5.4 square miles.] 





1906. 


1907. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


Sept 

i 

CO 

A 

CD 
W) 

o3 
O 


ember. 


Day. 


•4-= 
CD 

? 

bO 

o3 
O 


bfl 

M 

o3 

GO 

s 


§ 

53 

CD 

8P 

o 


6 

bfi 

o 

s 


1 
53 

<B 

9P 


o5 

c6 
o 

s 


53 

8, 

o3 

o 


CD 
CO 

ft 


53 
■A 

CD 

o 


cf 

o 

CO 

s 


CD 

bj) 

cS 

CO 

5 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
29 
28 
22 
28 
162 


Feet. 
1.12 

'i'12" 

1.15 
1.11 


Sec.-ft. 

30 

30 

30 

34 

34 

30 

32 - 

29 

26 

23 

25 

28 

27 

25 

24 

23 

22 

22 

22 

21 

30 

36 

60 

37 

33 

38 

54 
■ 47 

47 

44 

44 


Feet. 

1.27 

1.24 

1.20 

1.12 

1.08 

1.05 

1.05 

1.02 

1.01 

1.00 

1.00 

1.00 

.98 

.95 

.92 

.92 

.92 

1.00 


Sec.-ft. 
44 
40 
36 
30 
27 
25 
25 
23 
23 
22 
22 
22 
21 
20 
19 
19 
19 
22 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

45 

44 

43 

43 

39 

37 

39 

47 

47 

40 

41^ 

41 

43 

43 

38 
103 

77 

60 

43 

56 

63 

56 

43 

37 

35 

36 

37 

35 

98 
. 82 

66 


Feet. 
1.20 
1.25 
1.10 
l.lb 
1.15 
1.15 
.1.12 
1.10 
1.35 
1.85 
1.75 
1.60 
1.45 
1.40 
1.40 
1.37 
1.32 
1.30 
1.28 
1.28 
1.27 
1.22 


Sec.-ft. 
41 


2 


1.10 
1.00 
1.10 
1.80 








47 


3 








31 


4 








3d 


5 






1.08 
1.06 
1.08 
1.15 
1.15 
1.09 
1.10 
1.10 
1.12 
1.12 
1.07 
1.49 
1.48 
1.38 
1.25 
1.35 
1.40 
1.35 
1.25 
1.20 
1.18 
1.19 
1.20 
1.18 
1.50 
1,48 
1.38 


36 


6 






36 


7 










33 


8 






1.30 

"i.5i" 

'i'.ik' 


69 
65 
107 
110 
65 
68 
60 
54 
51 
45 
50 
60 
70 
100 
65 
58 
54 
54 
45 
42 
34 
28 
41 
45 


31 


9 






61 


10 


1.65 
1.53 
1.75 
1.60 
1.55 
1.45 
1.40 
1.45 
1.40 
1.30 
1.30 
1.35 
1.20 
1.52 
1.41 
1.33 
1.25 
1.25 


116 
86 
144 
103 
90 
70 
61 
70 
61 
47 
47 
54 
36 
83 
63 
51 
42 
42 
39 
36 
32 
31 


1.02 
1.05 
1.10 
1.08 
1.05 

'i.'oi" 

1.00 
1.00 
1.00 
.98 
1.12 
1.20 
1.39 
1.21 
1,16 
1.22 
1.35 
1.30 
1.30 
1.27 


149 


11 


109 


12 

13 


84 
59 


14 

15 

16... 


52 
52 

48 


17... 


42 


18... 


40 


19... 


38 


20 








38 


21... 








37 


22... 


1.60 


al03 




32 


23 


35 


24 










25 






1.20 
1.13 






26 










27 










28 












29 


1.20 
1.15 
1.14 












30 






1.10 






31 






















Mean 

Run-off per s< 


uiare 


62.0 
11.5 
11.5 




32.5 
6.02 
6.94 




25.5 

4.72 
3.16 




60.0 
11.1 
9.90 




50.2 
9.30 
10.7 




50.7 
9 39 


Run -off. dept 
inches 


l in 


8 03 







a Not included in mean. 

Note.— Discharges for 1907 have been computed from four rating tables on account of the shifting 
channel conditions, and are somewhat uncertain. Discharges for days between July 8 and August 5, 
when the gage was not read, were obtained by the aid of a hydrograph. 



44 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Daily gage height and discharge of West Fork of Grand Central River at pipe intake, 

1906-7. 





[Elevation, 1,010 feet; drainage area, 


2.8 square miles.] 








1906 (discharge). 


1907. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


Septem- 
ber. 


July. 


August. 


September. 




Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


l.i 


Sec.-ft. 

a 19 

18 

15 

18 


Sec.-ft. 
12 
12 
12 
14 
14 
a 12 
12 
10 

9 

8 

9 
11 
10 

9 

8 

8 
a 7. 6 

8 

8 

7 
12 
16 
30 
a 18. 5 
15 
19 
27 
24 
24 
22 
22 


Sec.-ft. 
22 
19 
16 
12 

9 

9 

8 

8 
«7.3 

7 

7 

7 

7 

6 

6 

6 

6 

7 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

14 

14 

14 

14 

12 
a 11. 3 

12 

15 

15 

13 

13 

13 
&13.7 

14 

12 

52 

35 

19 

14 

18 

20 

18 

14 

12 
a 12 

12 

12 

11 

39 

33 

26 


Feet. 
'"."88" 

"T62* 


Sec.-ft. 
13 


2 








15 


3 








15 


4 








11 


5 








fell. 5 


6 








0.86 


11 


7 








12 


8 




'""i'27' 


31 

29 
o47 

48 

29 

30 

26 

24 

22 

20 

22 

26 

31 

44 

29 

26 

24 

24 
a 19. 3 

18 

15 

12 

18 

20 


"\"9i" 
"."96" 


13 


9 




20 


10 




74 


11 


a 45 

72 

52 

45 

32 

27 

32 

27 

20 

20 

23 
a 15 

44 

32 
a 25 

19 

19 

16 

14 

13 . 

12 


54 


12 '. 


40 


13 


28 


14 


25 


15 


25 


16 


^23 


17 


17 


18 


13 


19 


12 


20 






12 


21 






12 


22 






10 


23 






11 


24 








25 










26 




a. 98 






27 








28 










29 










30 










31 




















Mean 


27.0 
9.64 
8.96 


13.9 
4.96 

5.72 


9.4 
3.36 
2.25 




26.4 
9.43 

8.42 




17.6 
6.29 
7.25 




20.5 


Run-off per square 


7.32 


Run - off, depth in 
inches 


6.26 







a Measurements. 

b Estimates based on gage readings. Other discharges are obtained by taking about the same 
percentage of the flow at elevation 860 feet as was found on the dates of measurements. Gagings 
on June 19, 1906, gave 28 second-feet, and on June 26, 26 second-feet. 



CRATER LAKE OUTLET. 

Crater Lake discharges into West Fork of Grand Central River just 
below the ditch intake on that stream. The lake, which lies in a 
depression of glacial origin, has an elevation of 973 feet and an area 
of 106 acres. Its basin adjoins those of Sinuk River and Thompson 
Creek. 

A gaging station was located on the outlet about midway between 
the lake and West Fork. The stream bed is composed of large angular 
rocks and has a fall of nearly 300 feet to the mile. It is hard to make 
measurements on account of the swiftness of the current, and the 
highest one of 1906 is only approximate. Gage heights were taken by 
employees of the Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN, 



45 



Discharge measurements of Crater Lake outlet, 1906-7. 
[Elevation, 925 feet.] 



Date. 



June 19 

June 26 

July 1 

July 10 

July 22 

July 24 

August 6 

August 8 

August 16... 
September 9 . 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



1.55 
.96 

1.10 
.90 
.98 
.80 
.73 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec, 



.-ft. 

14.2 

23.7 

13.6 

59.0 

12.0 

21.5 

7.1 

13.0 

5.6 

4.3 



Date. 



1907. 

July8 

July 16 

July 26 

July 30 

August 6 

August 13 

August 25 

September 5 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

1.32 

1.18 

1.13 

1.04 

1.00 

.99 

.95 

.93 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
36.5 
21.1 
16.7 
13.7 
10.0 
10.6 
8.0 
7.5 



Daily gage height and discharge of Crater Lake outlet, 1906-7. 
[Drainage area, 1.8 square miles.] 





1906. 


1907. 




July^ 


August. 


September. 


July. 


Augusts 


September. 


Day. 


I 
3 

O 


W) 

■§ . 
s 


'3 
a 

9 
bo 

O 


i 

o3 


s 


I 

8, 

oj 
O 


o3 

■s 

s 


§ 
3 

P 
bo 

c3 
O 


» 

o3 

O 

m 

s 


I 

9 
bo 

O 


3 

o3 
O 

CO 

s 


.bo 

'3 

a> 
of 




03 

s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
14 
14 
14 
25 
69 


Feet. 
0.85 

"."90" 

.95 
.96 


Sec.-ft- 

7 

8 

8 

9 

9 
11 
12 
10 

9 

9 
14 
11 

9 

7 

5.5 

5.5 

5.5 

5.5 

5 
15 
15 
31 
15 
14 
21 
23 
21 
17 
14 
13 


Feet. 

0.98 
.94 
.90 
.82 
.78 
.78 
.78 
.75 
.73 
.71 

!68 
.65 
.65 
.61 
.61 
.61 
.75 


Sec.-ft. 
13 
10 

9 

6 

5 

5 

5 

4.5 

4.3 

4.1 

3.9 

3.8 

3.5 

3.5 

3.1 

3.1 

3.1 

4.5 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec. -ft. 
20 
20 
17 
17 

12.3 
11.8 
S.O 
11.8 
11.2 
11.2 
11.8 
11.2 
12.3 
12.3 
10.7 
47 
46 
34 
24 
40 
46 
40 
34 
40 
80 
41 
42 
40 
52 
40 
34 


Feet. 

1.03 

1.10 

1.08 

1.15 

.93 

.90 

.85 

.83 

.80 

1.05 

1.90 

1.75 

1.40 

1.40 

1.35 

1.00 

.97 

.95 

.94 

.92 

.82 

.75 

.75 


Sec.-ft. 
11/8 


2... 


1.00 
1.00 
1.15 
1.65 








16.0 


3... 








14.7 


4.. 








19.7 


5.. 






1.04 
1.03 

.95 
1.03 
1.02 
1.02 
1.03 
1.02 
1.04 
1.04 
1.01 
1.41 
1.40 
1.30 
1.20 
1.35 
1.40 
1.35 
1.30 
1.35 

.95 
1.36 
1.37 
1.35 
1.45 
1.35 
1.30 


7.4 


6 . 






6.4 


7 










5.2 


8 






1.32 
"i.'27' 

'i'.ih' 


36 

28 

31 

36 

26 

30 

26 

22 

22 

20 

22 

26 

30 

40 

30 

24 

22 

21 

18.2 

18 

15 

12 

12.3 

17 


4.8 


9 






4.2 


10 


1.55 
1.25 
1.45 
1.30 
1.15 
1.10 
1.15 
1.10 
1.05 
1.00 
1.00 
1.05 
.96 
1.06 
1.10 
1.05 
1.02 
1.00 


59 
33 
50 
37 
25 
21 
25 
21 
17 
14 
14 
17 
12 
18 
21 
17 
15 
14 
12 
9 
8 
8 


.90 
.90 
1.00 
.95 
.90 

"\~80" 

.80 

.79 

.80 

.78 

1.01 

1.01 

1.22 

1.02 

1.00 

1.10 

1*12 

1.10 

1.05 

1.00 


12.8 


11 


106 


12 


88 


13 


46 


14 


46 


15 


40 


16 


10.2 


17 


8.9 


18 


8.0 


19 


7.7 


20 








7.0 


21 








4.6 


22 


1.40 


a 46 




3.5 


23 


3.5 


24 










25 






1.17 
1.13 






26 










27 










28 












29 


.90 

.88 
.88 












30 






1.04 






31 






















Mean 




22.3 

12.4 
12.4 




11.8 
6.56 
7.56 




5.2 
2.89 
1.93 




24.4 
13.6 
12.1 




26.0 

"'14.4 

16.6 




21.0 


Run-off per square 
mile 


11.7 


Run-off, depth in 
inches 


10.0 







a Not included in mean. 



46 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER BELOW THE FORKS. 



This station was established to obtain the total flow that can be 
diverted over the Nugget divide from the headwaters of Grand Cen- 
tral River. But little water enters the stream between this station and 
the proposed ditch intakes. Gage readings were taken during 1906 
by employees of the Wild Goose Mining and Trading Company. 
Gage readings were discontinued in 1907, but measurements were 
made and the discharge of West Fork obtained by subtracting that of 
North Fork from the total below the junction. The two stations 
above the forks replaced the one below the forks in 1907. 

Discharge measurements of Grand Central River below the forks, 1906-7. 
[Elevation, 680 feet.] 



Date. 



1906 

July 1 

July 11 

July 24 

Do 

July26 

August 7 

August 17 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 


0.95 


63 


1.40 


180 


1.29 


140 


1.22 


129 


1.10 


101 


.89 


66 


.79 


54.4 



Date. 



1907 

July 10 

July 16 

July 26 

August 5 

August 13 

September 5 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.33 
1.20 
1.19 
1.02 
.97 
1.06 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
145 
121 
119 

85 

72 



Daily gage height and discharge of Grand Central River below the forks, 1906. 
[Drainage area, 14.6 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 

0.95 

.90 

.95 

1.05 

1.87 


Sec-feet. 
63 
56 
63 
80 
370 


Feet. 

0.90 

.90 

.90 

.95 


Sec-feet. 

67 

67 

67 

74 

74 

67 

79 ■ 

73 

67 

65 

66 

68 

65 

62 

59 

56 

54 

54 

53 

53 

65 

59 
210 

96 

86 
140 
210 
135 
135 
HI 
104 


Feet. 

1.10 

1.05 

1.00 

.95 

.93 


Sec-feet. 
100 


2 


91 


3 


82 


4 


74 


5 


72 


6 


.90 
.98 
.94 
.90 


67 


7. 








63 


8. . 








59 


9 


1.75 
1.70 
1.45 


325 
300 
198 
280 
198 
187 
168 
160 
180 
100 
91 
100 
100 
82 
143 
145 
118 
100 
100 
100 
82 
82 
67 


.80 


55 


10... 


54 


11 




.78 
.75 
.75 
.75 
.72 
.71 


53 


12 




50 


13 


1.45 

1.42 




50 


14 




50 


15 . 




48 


16 . 




.81 
.79 


47 


17... 


1.40 
1.10 
1.05 
1.10 
1.10 
1.00 
1.28 
1.29 
1.18 
1.10 


47 


18 




54 


19 








20 


.78 






21 






22 




1.72 


^310 


23 






24 


1.08 
1.02 






25 






26 






27 








28 


1.10 

1.00 

1.00 

.90 


1.25 
1.25 
1.15 
1.12 






29 






30 






31 
















M44 
9.86 
10.27 




85.2 
5.84 
6.73 




c62.0 










4.25 










2.84 













o Not included in mean. 



628 days. 



cl8 days. 



Note.— The interpolated discharges of Aug. 21-23 and 26-27 are 40 to 45 per cent of the flow at the sta- 
tion below Nugget Creek. This is about the proportion that holds for higher water. Other interpo- 
lations are made by comparison with the West Fork and Crater Lake outlet stations. 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



47 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER BELOW NUGGET CREEK. 

This station was established June 30, 1906, but it was not possible 
to obtain regular gage readings until August 12, after which the gage 
was read once each day by A. W. Peterson. At low water the river 
at this point is about 50 feet wide and 1 to 2 feet deep, and has a 
mean velocity of about 2 feet per second. It is impossible to obtain 
measurements above gage height 1.2 feet by wading. The estimates 
at this station give practically the total flow of Grand Central River 
into Salmon Lake. 

Discharge measurements of Grand Central River below Nugget Creek, 1906. 



June 24.. 
June 30... 
July 7.... 
August 4. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 

"b'.hi 

.98 
.46 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
313 
148 
286 
123 



Date. 



August 28 

September 9. 
September 14 



Gage 
height. 



leet. 
1.10 
.46 
^ .36 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec. -feet. 
324 
121 
101 



Mean daily gage height and discharge of Grand Central River below Nugget Creek, 1906. 

[Drainage area, 39 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 
0.5 
.45 


Sec-feet. 
132 
120 


Feet. 


Sec-feet. 


Feet. 
0.8 
.75 
.65 
.6 
.6 
.55 
.5 
.5 
.45 
.42 
.4 
.4 
.38 
.35 
.35 
.3 
.3 
.4 
1.2 
2.6 
2.2 
1.6 
1.6 
1.35 
1.15 


Sec-feet. 
220 


2 






204 


3 






172 


4 










157 


5 










157 


6 










144 


7 










132 


8 










132 


9 










120 


10 


1.9 


750 






114 


11 






109 


12 


1.55 


545 


0.5 
.5 
.5 
.4 
.42 
.45 
.4 
.35 
' .5 
.55 
.5 
1.5 
.8 
.7 
1.05 
1.5 
1.1 
.95 
.9 
.8 


132 
132 
132 
109 
114 
120 
109 
100 
132 
144 
132 
520 
220 
187 
310 
520 
330 
272 
255 
220 


109 


13 


105 


14 






100 


15 






100 


16 






90 


17 






90 


18 






109 


19 






375 


20 






1,230 


21 


.6 


157 


950 


22 


570 


23 






570 


24 






445 


25 






352 


26 


.5 


132 




27 






28 










29 










30 










31 




















Mean 








a 210 
5.38 
4.00 




6 274 


Run-off per square mile 










7.03 


Run-off, depth in inches 










6.54 















20 days. 



t> 25 days. 



48 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



GOLD RUN. 

Gold Run enters Grand Central River from the east, about 2 miles 
below the forks. It drains a high cirque which lies between North 
Fork and Fox Creek, has a rapid fall, and terminates in a large gravel 
fan. A glacial lake near the head of its valley affords possibilities 
of storage to regulate the flow. On account of the large flow and 
the concentration of a considerable fall in a short distance, Gold Run 
has greater advantages for a high-head power development than any 
other stream on the south side of the Kigluaik Mountains. 

In order to determine the quantity of water from this stream avail- 
able for diversion across the Nugget divide, a station was established 
at an elevation of about 800 feet. 



Daily gage height and discharge of Gold Run, 1906-7. 
[Elevation, 800 feet.] 





1906. 


1907. 




July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


bo 
'5 

P 

8P 

© 


03 

c3 
O 

s 


bo 

'3 

£\ 
03 

SP 


03 

O 

03 

P 


bo 
"3 

43 

3P 

© 


03 
b£> 

o3 

.a 

o 

s 


_bp 

'3 

P 
be 

© 


03 

bo 

CO 

3 


I 

03 
03 

bo 

03 
O 


03 

bo 
o3 

X3 



P 


& 
bo 
'3 

03 

bo 
o3 

O 


3 
bp 

=3 

C3 
P 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

14 

a 13 

13 

20 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

18 

18 

18 

20 

24 

30 
6 34 
6 22 
6 21 

20 

20 

24 

22 

20 

18 
6 17 
6 16.5 

16 

16 

15 

28 

34 

50 

34 
6 29 

44 

68 
a 51 

40 

36 

32 


Feet. 

'o.% 
"Yri 


Sec.-ft. 

30 
6 26 

23 

20 

17 „ 

16 

15 

14 

13 
a 12 

12 

12 

11 

11 

11 

10 

10 

12 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

24 

24 

22 

22 
6 22 

19 

16 

18 

18 

15 

15 

15 

15 
a 16 

13 

50 

55 

48 

40 

60 

75 

75 

70 

60 

56 
6 74 

76 

60 

90 

70 

40 


Feet. 
"i.22" 

"i.'38" 


Sec.-ft. 
22 


2 










25 


3 










25 


4 










30 


5 








1.24 


6 20 


6 












16 


7 






1.03 

.90 
.89 








14 


8 






1.57 
T46" 


a 72 
60 
80 
86 
65 
70 
60 
48 

642 
38 
42 
48 
54 
70 
45 
40 
35 
32 
32 
24 
20 

6 18 

a 23 
24 


"i'JIe" 


13 


9 






13 


10 .. 






25 


11 




52 
a 69 

55 

45 

40 

38 

42 

24 

20 

22 

23 
al8.5 
6 30 

30 
a 30 
6 24 

24 

21 

20 

19 

18 


"isi" 

.80 
"*99" 


120 


12 


1.21 


90 


13 


70 


14 




60 


15... 




50 


16 




a 26 


17 




24 


18 




22 


19 




20 


20 










18 


21 










14 


22 


.84 
1.00 








11 


23 








10 


24 










25 


1.00 
.93 












26 












27 












28 












29 








1.20 
1.25 






30 












31 


























Mean 




29.0 




27.6 




15.3 




47.0 




41.1 




32.1 



a Measurements. 

6 Estimates based on gage heights. Other discharges were obtained by plotting a hydrograph passing 
through the known points and following the rise and fall of the other streams in the vicinity, Gagings 
made on June 20, 1906, gave 22 second-feet and on June 25, 24 second-feet. 



GRAND CENTKAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



49 



THOMPSON CREEK. 

Thompson Creek enters Grand Central River from the west about 
2 miles below the forks. It drains a small glacial cirque almost 
wholly surrounded by very steep walls ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 
feet in height. Measurements were made at a point with an eleva- 
tion of 720 feet, which gives the amount of water available for di- 
version over the Nugget divide. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Thompson Creek, 1906-7. 
[Elevation, 720 feet; drainage area, 2.5 square miles.] 









1906. 






• 


1907. 








July. 


August. 


September. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


I 

A 

8P 

o 


■s 

GO 

5 


i 

53 
A 

» 


o5 
60 

A 


m 

ft 


ft 

1 

1 

O 


1 

1 

GO 

5 


ft 

1 

8, 

O 


1 o3 

■s 

ft 


i 
s 
a 

OJ 

to 


A 



CO ** 

s 


4J 
ft 

3 

A 

$> 
60 

o3 
O 


i 

03 
1 

s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

11 

all 

11 

16 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
9 
9 

10 

10 

11 

15 
6 22.5 
6 14 
ol2.5 

11 

11 

17 

14 

12 

11 

69.6 
6 10 

10 

10 
9 

20 

20 

40 
6 23 

21 

28 

30 

28 
6 25.4 

22 

20 


Feet. 

Too' 

1.00 


Sec.-ft. 
19 
14 
12 

8 

7 

7 

7 

6 
66.2 
o6.2 

6 
. 6 

6 

5 

5 

5 

5 .. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

30 

27 

23 

20 

15 

613 

9 

13 

13 

13 

13 

13 
613 
o20 

15 

50 

50 

39 

29 

40 

46 

40 

34 

40 

69 
6 35 

35 

35 

40 

34 

30 


Feet. 
"l'.U 

"l."25" 



""99" 


Sec.-ft. 
16 


2 










17 


3 










16 


4 










22 


5 










12 


6 










1.24 


o9.6 


7. . 


"| 


1.39 
1.22 
1.19 






8 


8 


1 


1.55 

i'.m 


o49 
45 

6 82 
87 
60 
50 
40 
34 

6 32 
30 
34 
40 
46 
55 
44 
35 
30 

6 28 

6 35 
34 
31 
27 

a 32 
34 


i*24' 

1.34 

Ti5' 
1.47 


7 


9 





7 


10 


i 


15 


11 




36 
a 52 

40 

30 ' 

24 

28 

23 

19 

16 

16 

18 
613 

21 
a 25 
a 23 
6 17.5 

16 

14 

11 

is 


i.'ii' 

1.12 

"i.'4o" 


100 


12 




80 


13 






50 


14 




50 •. 


15 




42 


16 




14 


17 : 




12.6 


18 




6 




11 


19 




10 


20 










9 


21 










6 


22 


1.20 








5 


23 








65 


24 


1.42 
1.41 
1.29 










25 






1.42 
1.47 




26 






! 


27 








28 










1 


29 










1 


30 








1.44 


1 


31 












1 


















20.5 

8.20 
7.62 





16.6 

6.64 
7.66 




7.6 
3.04 
2.10 




42.2 
16.9 
15.1 


:::: 


27.0 
10.8 
12.4 




i 


22.8 


Run-off per sq 


uare 


9.12 


Run-off, deptt 
inches 


in 


7.80 







a Measurements. 

6 Estimates based on gage heights. Other discharges were obtained by plotting a hydrograph passing 
through the known points and following the rise and fall of Crater Lake outlet, whose basin adjoins 
that of Thompson Creek and is of a similar character. A measurement on June 25 gave 42 second-feet. 

NUGGET AND COPPER CREEKS. 

Nugget Creek rises in the divide between Nome River and Grand 
Central River and empties its waters and those of its tributary, Copper 
Creek, into Grand Central River about 2 miles above Salmon Lake. 



35283— ier 218—08- 



50 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



The headwaters of both Nugget and Copper creeks are precipitous 
and are fed by springs in limestone. Measurements were made on 
Nugget Creek at an elevation of 785 feet, at the point where its waters 
are diverted over the Nugget divide by the Grand Central branch of 
the Miocene ditch. 

During 1907 the discharge of the creek was measured in the ditch 
about 200 feet below the intake. The results of measurements are 
given on page 31. 

The flow of Copper Creek is also tapped by a branch of the Jett 
Creek ditch at an elevation of about 800 feet. The combined monthly 
discharge of Copper and Jett cree 1 ..: for 1907 is given on page 51. 

Discharge measurements of Nugget and Copper creeks, 1906-7. 

NUGGET CREEK. 
[Elevation, 785 feet.] 



June 18. 
June 19. 
June 21 . 
June 28. 
July 12. 



Date. 



1906. 



Elevation 
of point of 
measure- 
ment. 



Feet. 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet, 
1.8 
1.6 
4.4 
.96 
6.8 



Date. 



1906. 

August 11 

August 29 

September 2 . . . 
September 7 . . . 
September 14. . 



Elevation 
of point of 
measure- 
ment. 



Feet. 



Discharge 



Sec-feet. 
3.0 
8.6 
6.8 
6.1 
4.4 



COPPER CREEK. 



1906. 



June 18. .. 
June 19... 
June 21 . . . 
July 12... 
July 21... 
August 11. 



700 


3.8 


800 


8.7 


700 


11.6 


700 


11.3 


800 


2.4 


800 


.8 



1906. 

August 31 

September 10.. 

1907. 



July 9. 



800 
800 



800 



2.4 
9.4 



Monthly discharge of Nugget Creek at Miocene intake, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 2.1 square miles.] 




Month. , 


Discharge in second-feet. 


Run-off. 




Maximum. 


Minimum. 


Mean. 


Sec. -ft. per 
sq. mile. 


Depth in 
inches. 


July 9-31 




12.0 
10.6 
40 


3.8 

2.8 
6.8 


5.7 
6.2 
11.0 


2.71 
2.95 

5. 24 


2.32 




3.40 




5. 85 








■ 84 days 


40 


2.8 


7.8 


3.71 11.57 









Note.— The maximum for September is estimated. For the daily discharge see page 32. 



JETT CREEK. 



Jett Creek enters Grand Central River from the south. It has a 
short drainage basin and is made up of a series of falls and rapids. 
Water is diverted over the Nugget divide into Nome River by the 
Jett Creek ditch. (See p. 31 for measurements on Jett Creek ditch.) 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN 



51 



The discharge of this ditch at times of low water is equal to the 
combined discharge of Jett and Copper creeks at the intakes, less a 
small amount of loss by seepage. This has been compared with the 
natural flow of Nome River for four such periods, as follows : 

Comparison of flow of Jett Creek ditch and Nome River at Miocene intake, 1907. 



Dates. 



Nome 
River. 



Jett and 
Copper 
creeks. 



Creeks 
in per 
cent of 
Nome 
River. 



July 26-31 

August 1-16 . . 
August 19-25. 
September 3-8 



Sec.-ft. 
30 
22 
32 
34 



Sec.-ft. 
7.0 
5.2 
7.0 
6.4 



The above table shows that the discharge of Jett and Copper 
creeks was from 24 to 19 per cent of that of Nome River. ^ 

The combined discharges of the two creeks for other periods than 
those given have therefore been taken as 24 per cent of that of 
Nome River for July, 20 per cent for August, and 16 per cent for 
September, on the assumption that in September the flow was 
checked to a greater extent by cold weather than that of Nome River. 

Measurements were made in 1906 to show the amount of water 
available at the diversion. 



Discharge measurements of Jett Creek, 1906. 
[Elevation, 800 feet.] 



Date, 



June 19 
July 2 . 
July 12. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
14.9 
4.4 
14.3 



Date. 



July 21 

August 31 . . . 
September 10 



Discbarge 



Sec.-ft. 



5.8 
8.3 
4.2 



Combined monthly discharge of Jett and Copper creeks at Miocene intake, 1907 
[Drainage area, 2.25 square miles.] 





Discharge in second-feet. 


Run-off. 


Month. 


Maximum. 


Minimum. 


Mean. 


Sec.-ft. per 
sq. mile. 


Depth 
in inches. 


July _ 


40 
15 
49 


5.9 
3.9 
2.9 


17.3 
7.1 
9.6 


7.69 
3.16 
4.27 


8.87 


August 


3.64 


September 


4.76 






92 days 


49 


2.9 


11.3 


5.04 


17.27 







MORNING CALL CREEK. 



Morning Call Creek enters Grand Central River from the south 
near Salmon Lake. The hills to the south are lower and more exposed 
than those of Copper and Jett creeks, and the snow melts earlier in the 



52 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



spring. At low water all the flow disappears in the pervious lime- 
stone above the point where a ditch intended to cross the Nugget 
divide would have its intake. The water appears again near the 
contact with the schist, at an elevation of about 750 feet. 

Discharge measurements of Morning Call Creek, 1906. 



Date. 



June 20. 
June 20. 
June 24. 



Elevation 
of point of 
measure- 
ment. 



Feet. 



700 
900 
500 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



Date. 



July 2... 
July 12.. 
August 9 



Elevation 
of point of 
measure- 
ment. 



Feet. 



700 
700 
900 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
10.0 
20.8 
0.0 



STORAGE POSSIBILITIES. 

There are several reservoir sites in the headwaters of Grand Central 
River. The most' important of these is Crater Lake, which lies in a 
cirque at an elevation of 973 feet. This lake has an area of 106 acres, 
and a dam to raise the water 15 feet would increase the area to about 
160 acres. The outlet could be arranged so as to draw the lake 5 feet 
below its present level, thus giving a storage capacity of about 2,500 
acre-feet. There is also a small lake at the head of Gold Run. Its 
area has not been measured, but it would probably afford sufficient 
storage to reenforce the low-water flow of that stream considerably. 

Computations have been made to ascertain the storage capacity 
that would be necessary to maintain a given discharge in a proposed 
ditch, taking water either from (1) Gold Run, both forks of Grand 
Central River, and Thompson Creek; (2) the forks of Grand Central 
River and Thompson Creek, without Gold Run; or, (3) Gold Run 
alone, with storage obtained on the lake on that stream. Both 1 and 
2 have been studied for a discharge of 80, 100, and 120 second-feet 
with storage obtained on Crater Lake. 

The amount of water that would have to be drawn from storage 
during any day is the difference between the discharge of the streams 
tapped and the assumed capacity of the ditch. The sum of these 
deficiencies for any week or month gives the total draft that would 
be made on the reservoirs for that period. 

The days of deficient flow during 1906 occurred in four periods and 
those for 1907 in three periods, between which there were periods 
when the discharge of the streams exceeded the capacity of the ditch. 
During such periods of greater flow some of the water could be con- 
served in one of the lakes already mentioned. The amount thus 
retained would be equal to the excess of the discharge of the streams 
over the ditch capacity until this excess became greater than the dis- 



SALMON LAKE. 



53 



charge into the lake, or until the lake had refilled or contained enough 
water to meet any later demands on it. The amount thus conserved 
during periods of high water, deducted from the total drawn from 
storage, gives the net storage capacity that would be required. The 
unit used in the following statement is 1 second-foot for 1 day, which 
is equal to nearly 2 acre-feet. • 

Storage capacity required to maintain given discharges, 1906 and 1907. 
GRAND CENTRAL RIVER, THOMPSON CREEK, AND GOLD RUN. 



Discharge. 


July 1 to September 30, 1906. 


July 8 to September 23, 1907. 


Total 
deficiency. 


Storage capacity re- 
quired. 


Total 
deficiency. 


Storage capacity re- 
quired. 


Sec-feet. 
80 
100 
120 


Sec.-ft. for 
1 day. 
127 
560 
1,332 


Sec.-ft. for 
1 day. 
123 
372 
1,002 


Acre-feet. 

244 

738 

1,987 


Sec.-ft. for 
1 day. 
9 
51 

274 


Sec.-ft. for 
1 day. 
9 
51 
145 


A cre-feet. 

18 

101 

288 



GRAND CENTRAL RIVER AND THOMPSON CREEK. 



80 


413 


268 


532 


26 


26 


51 


100 


1,227 


925 


1,834 


212 


107 


213 


120 


2,206 


1,814 


3,590 


607 


320 


635 



GOLD RUN. 



20 


165 


104 


206 


91 


40 


79 


25 


395 


181 


359 


225 


117 


232 


30 


679 


444 


880 


410 


217 


430 



Note.— Discharges for the latter part of September, 1906, were estimated. 



SALMON LAKE. 

Salmon Lake lies at the foot of the Kigluaik Mountains at an eleva- 
tion of about 442 feet. It has a water surface area of 1,800 acres 
and a drainage area of 81 square miles. Its principal supply comes 
from Grand Central River, which enters it at its west end. A number 
of small streams also enter the lake from both the north and the south, 
but with the exception of Fox Creek and Jasper Creek these are of 
minor importance. The outlet of the lake is through Kruzgamepa 
River. 

This lake offers an excellent opportunity for a storage reservoir for 
power purposes and mining along Kruzgamepa River. The use of 
its water in the vicinity of Nome is practically prohibited, owing to 
its low elevation and the long tunnel which would be necessary to 
bring the water through the Nugget divide into the Nome River 
basin. By raising the water of the lake to an elevation of 500 feet the 
shortest tunnel line would be between 5 and 6 miles long; and if any 



54 

allowance be made for drawing on the storage, water could not be 
brought through to the Nome Valley at an elevation greater than 
about 450 feet. The mouth of the tunnel would be near Dorothy 
Creek, and the loss in grade between that point and Nome would 
bring the water so low that it could not be used to any extent for 
hydraulicking. Even if the water could be brought to the vicinity of 
Nome under a sufficient head for hydraulicking, the great cost and 
difficulty of building so long a tunnel would make the feasibility of 
the plan very doubtful. 

Measurement of flow in and out of Salmon Lake, 1906. 



Date. 



June 22. 

Do. 

Do. 
June 24. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 



June 23. 



Stream. 



Rainbow Creek 

Fox Creek 

8 small streams from north 

Jasper Creek 

Morning Call Creek 

Jett Creek 

6 small streams from south 

Grand Central River below Nugget Creek. 



Total ,. 

Kruzgamepa River, at outlet of Salmon Lake. 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 

3.4 

99 

ad 

11. f» 

27 

a 10 

a\ 

313 



474 
425 



a Estimated. 
Note.— The stage of Salmon Lake remained practically constant from June 22 to 24, inclusive. 

A measurement on Fox Creek August 16, 1906, gave a discharge of 
17.3 second-feet. 

KRUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN BELOW SALMON LAKE. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Kruzgamepa or Pilgrim River, the outlet of Salmon Lake, has a 
larger discharge than any other stream in this section on which 
records have been obtained. For about 12 miles it flows in a valley 
ranging from 6 to 12 miles in width, and then enters the lowlands 
north of the Kigluaik Range, finally discharging into Imuruk Basin. 
The principal tributaries are Crater, Grouse, and Homestake creeks 
from the north and Iron Creek from the south. 

As it leaves Salmon Lake the river flows through a narrow outlet 
having a width of 150 feet at the bottom and 500 feet at the top, 
offering an excellent dam site and location for a hydro-electric power 
plant. Plans for the construction of such a plant have been per- 
fected by the Salmon Lake Power Company, which intends to develop 
3,000 horsepower, to be used on dredges at Nome and Council and on 
Solomon River. 

Salmon Lake, at its present level, 442 feet, covers 1,800 acres; if 
raised to a level of 475 feet it would cover 3,600 acres; and at 500 
feet, 4,600 acres. The reservoir thus formed could be used for the 



KEUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



55 



storage of the water of the floods caused by the melting snow in the 
spring and the occasional heavy rains in the summer. The water 
thus retained would give a large minimum flow not only in summer 
but also during the winter months, when the natural run-off becomes 
small. 

Kruzgamepa River seldom freezes over before the first of January, 
and it is probable that with proper installation power could be 
developed throughout the year. 

KRUZGAMEPA RIVER AT OUTLET OF SALMON LAKE. 

A gaging station was established at Leland's camp, about 100 
yards below Salmon Lake, June 23, 1906. A temporary gage had 
been set and float measurements made during the spring flood by 
J. P. Samuelson. 

Discharge measurements were made by wading when the discharge 
was less than 600 second-feet. The high-water measurements were 
made by floats in 1906, and from a cable in 1907. 

The gage was read twice daily by J. P. Samuelson and M. Don- 
worth. 



Discharge measurements of Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon Lake, 1906- 



1906. 

June 23 

June 29 

June 30 

Julv9 

Do 

July 10 

August 4 

August 15 

August 25 

August 26 ... . 

August 28 

September 1. . 
September 7. . 
September 17. 
September 21. 
September 23. 
September 24. 



Area of 



Mean 
veloc- 
ity. 



Sq. 



ft- 

183 
170 
157 
431 
412 
372 
117 
116 
148 
159 
184 
164 
•127 
108 
336 
299 
269 



Ft. per 
sec. 
2.32 
2.08 
2.01 
5.43 
5.09 
4.73 
1.81 
1.80 
2.11 
2.33 
2.49 
2.27 
1.95 
1.62 
4.61 
3.76 
3.44 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1.22 


425 


1.00 


353 


.93 


315 


3.18 


2,340 


3.02 


2,094 


2.68 


1,760 


.38 


212 


.37- 


209 , 


.70 


312 


.80 


371 


1.02 


458 


.85 


373 l! 


.52 


248 


.27 


175 


2.38 


1,546 


2.06 


1,124 


1.80 


925 ! 



1907. 

June 16 

June 17 

June 28 

Do 

July2 

July 4 

July 14 

August 2 

August 14 

August 23... 
September 6. 
September 11 
September 12. 
September 20. 



Area of 



Mean 
veloc- 
ity. 



Gage I Dis- 
height. charge 



Sq. ft. 
415 
367 
282 
270 
248 
220 
229 
149 
125 
174 
155 
362 
327 
162 



Ft. per 
sec. 
4.94 
4.47 
3.62 
3.67 
3.03 
2.58 
2.69 
2.04 
1.86 
2.52 
2.13 
4.20 
4.01 
2.21 



Feet. 
2.97 
2.56 
1.88 
1.78 
1.56 
1.30 
1.37 
.65 
.39 



2.52 
2.19 

.76 



Sec.-ft. 

2,050 

1,640 

1,020 

991 

751 

567 

616 

304 

232 

438 

330 

1,520 

1,310 

358 



Daily gage height and discharge of Kruzgamepa River at Salmon Lake, 1906. 
[Drainage area, 81 square miles.] 





May. 


June. 


July- 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage Dis- 
height. charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. \ Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
3.05 
3. 75 
3.90 
4.20 
3.75 
3.20 
2.45 


Sec.-ft. 
1,780 
2, 270 
2,350 
2,520 
2,270 
1,920 
1,220 


Feet. 

0.82 

.72 

.70 

.70 

.80 

1.10 

1.10 

1.92 

3.05 

2. CO 

2.20 


Sec.-ft. 

272 

241 

235 

235 

265 

380 

380 

.1,030 

2,130 

1,640 

1,275 


Feet. 
0.48 
.42 
.38 
.36 
.38 
.38 
.40 
.40 
.40 
.36 
.35 


Sec.-ft. 
239 
221 , 
209 | 
203 
209 
209 
215 
215 
215 
203 
200 , 


Feet. 
0.86 
.81 
.74 
.69 
.65 
.60 
.53 
49 
.46 
.41 
.39 


Sec.-ft. 
387 


2 






364 


3 






336 


4 






316 


5 






300 


6 






280 


7 




256 


8 




242 


9 








233 


10 








218 


11 









212 



56 



WATER. SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1006-1907. 



Daily gage height and discharge of Kruzgamepa River at Salmon Lake, 1906 — Continued. 
[Drainage area, 81 square miles.] 





May. 


June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


12 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.95 

1.85 

1.55 

1.45 

1.25 

1.12 

1.08 

.98 

.90 

.82 

.85 

.82 

.85 

.82 

.80 

.72 

.70 

.62 

.55 

.50 


Sec.-ft. 
1,065 
985 
768 
702 
582 
511 
490 
441 
405 
369 
382 
369 
382 
369 
360 
328 
320 
288 
262 
245 


Feet. 
0.35 
.36 
.34 
.36 
.35 
.32 
.30 
.26 
.32 
.39 
.42 
.66 
.71 
.70 
.76 
.90 
1.02 
1.05 
.99 
.94 


Sec.-ft. 
200 
203 
197 
202 
200 
197 
185 
175 
191 
212 
221 
304 
324 
320 
344 
405 
460 
475 
446 
423 


Feet. 

0.37 

.34 

.31 

.30 

.28 

.26 

.27 

.52 

1.34 

2.35 

2.40 

2.11 

1.78 

1.58 

1.38 

1.22 

1.08 

.98 

.88 


Sec.-ft. 
206 


13 










197 


14 








188 


15 










185 


16 










180 


17 










175 


18 










178 


19 










252 


20 










634 


21 








1,410 

1,455 


22 










23 






1.20 
1.25 
1.20 
1.12 


420 
442 
420 

388 


1,198 
930 


24 






25 






787 


26 






658 


27 






1.10 ! 380 

1.05 360 

1.02 I 348 

.92 308 


566 


28 


5.45 
5.00 
4.05 
3.60 


3,270 
3,000 
2,430 
2,180 


490 


29 


441 


30 


396 


31 












Mean 




2,720 

33.6 

5.00 

21,600 


If ° 2, 050 


} 

} 


571 

7.05 

8.13 

35, 100 




259 

3.20 

3.69 

15,900 




456 


Run-off per square 
mile 


} 

} 




I "686 

f a 25. 3 
1 b 4. 73 
f a 6. 59 
Y&1.41 
fa28,500 
\b 6,040 


5.63 


Run-off, depth in 
inches ." 


6.28 


Run-off, acre-feet . . . 


27, 100 











a June 1 to 7. 



b June 23 to 30. 



Note.— The channel changed during the high water of July 9, and a new rating table was used after 
that date. The discharges of May 28 to June 7 are based on measurements which show a low velocity, 
probably caused by backwater. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Kruzgamepa River at Salmon Lake, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 81 square miles.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


bC 

"3 

a) 

SP 

o 


6 
bp 

o3 

O 
w 

5 


bo 

'3 

03 
bJO 
c3 
O 


a3 
o3 
1 

5 


,d 
bfi 
'3 
A 
<D 

be 

a 


oj 

bC 

o3 
& 
O 
on 

s 


bp 

of 

o 


03 
bfi 

Oj 

ft 

o 

3 


1 
3 

§ 


6 

o3 

t 

s. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.70 

1.58 

1.44 

1.28 

1.20 

1.20 

al.50 

al.45 

al. 40 

al.35 

<*1. 30 

al.25 

al. 30 

1.35 

1.26 

1.15 

1.10 

1.02 

1.00 

1.00 

1.18 

1.18 

1.12 

1.08 


Sec.-ft. 
875 
791 
696 
599 
555 
555 
735 
702 
670 
640 
610 
582 
610 
640 
588 
528 
500 
460 
450 
450 
544 
544 
511 
490 


Feet. 

0.69 
.65 
.62 
.61 
.60 
.55 
.48 
.45 
.45 
.44 
.44 
.42 
.40 
.40 
.38 
.40 
.69 
.94 
.97 
.90 
.88 
.90 
.89 
.82 


Sec.-ft. 
326 
312 
302 
298 
295 
280 
259 
250 
250 
247 
247 
241 
235 
235 
229 
235 
326 
423 
436 
405 
397 
405 
401 
373 


Feet. 

1.14 

1.00 

.90 

.82 

.77 

.73 

.62 

.58 

.71 

1.25 

2.50 

2.26 

1.98 

1.59 

1.40 

1.26 

1.10 

.98 

.86 

.74 


Sec.-ft. 
522 
450 
405 
373 
354 
340 
302 
289 
334 
582 
1,560 
1,330 
1,090 
798 
670 
588 
500 
441 
389 
344 


Feet. 

0.30 
.23 
.21 
.20 
.19 


Sec.-fi. 
205 


2 






188 


3... 






182 


4. 






180 






178 


6 


1 




7 .. 








8. 








9 








10 


::; 






11... 








12... 


i 






13 


. .i .- 




14 








15... 


3.30 
2.99 
2.47 
2.72 
3.02 


2, 360 
2,040 
1,530 
1,770 
2,070 
1,850 
1,390 
1,180 
1,110 
1,180 






16... 






17 






18 






19 






20... 


2.80 
2.32 
2.08 
2.00 
2.08 






21... 


.72 j 337 
.62 | 302 
.54 277 
.54 1 277 






22 






23... 






24 : 







a Estimated. 



KRUZGAMEPA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



57 



Daily gage height and discharge of Kruzgamepa River at Salmon Lake, 1907 — Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


bo 

1 

o 


s 


3 

03 

bC 

O 


o3 
bo 

■3 

3 


s 

03 

8P 

o 


03 

o 

s 


i 

03 
03 

9P 

o 


03 
£P 

X! 
o 
on 

5 


A 
bp 

"S 

03 

3F 
o 


03 

bo 

XJ 
o 
en ' 

s 


25 


Feet. 
2.22 
2.30 
2.28 
2.12 
1.95 
1.78 


Sec.-ft. 
1,300 
1,370 
1,350 
1,210 
1,070 
935 


Feet. 
1.05 
1.02 
.98 
.80 
.72 
.62 
.60 


Sec.-ft. 
475 
460 
441 
365 
337 
302* 
295 


0.78 
.80 
.88 
.84 
.86 
1.18 
1.20 


Sec.-ft. 
358 
365 
397 
381 
389 
544 
555 


Feet. 

0.50 
.48 
.46 
.42 
.38 
.34 


Sec.-ft. 
265 
259 
253 
241 
229 
217 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


26 






27 






28 






29. 






30... 






31... 




















Mean 




1,480 
18.3 
10.9 

47, 000 




548 

6.77 

7.80 

33, 700 




335 
4.14 

4.77 
20, 600 




477 
5.89 
6.57 

28, 400 




187 






2.31 






.43 






1,850 









Note.— The datum of the 1907 gage was 0.16 foot higher than that of the 1906 gage. The river began 
to break up May 22, 1907. The discharge increased up to June 15, which was the maximirfn of the season, 
and was probably as great during the first half of June as during the last half. 

CRATER CREEK. 

Crater Creek is the first large tributary entering Kruzgamepa River 
from the north. It rises in mountains that reach an elevation of 
nearly 4,000 feet. The topography and general character of its basin 
closely resemble those of Grand Central River. (See p. 38.) It 
drains many small lakes, but none of any considerable size. This 
stream has good possibilities for water-power development. Meas- 
urements were made at an elevation of about 550 feet. 

Should developments in the vicinity of Nome ever demand it, the 
water of Crater Creek could be diverted over the divide into Eldorado 
River by about 8 miles of ditch and 1.2 miles of siphon across Kruz- 
gamepa River, none of which would be under a pressure of more than 
100 feet. 

Discharge measurements of Crater Creek, 1906-7. 
[Elevation, 550 feet.] 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



1906. 



Feet. 



August 5 

August 15 

August 27 

September 1. . 
September 8. . 
September 16. 



0.45 

1.30 

.71 

.45 

.35 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
67 
57 
290 
110 
55 
39 



Date. 



1907 

June 29 

July 3 

July 15 

August 2 

August 23 

September 12. . . 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.80 
1.55 
1.56 
1.34 
1.66 
2.05 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec-feet. 
217 
131 
141 
89 
185 
245 



IRON CREEK. 



Iron Creek rises in an area of limestone and schist hills of no great 
elevation lying between Salmon Lake and the headwaters of Casade- 
paga and Eldorado rivers. It is formed by the junction of Eldorado 



58 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



and Telegram creeks. Its principal tributaries are Discovery and 
Canyon creeks, both from the southwest. The portion of the stream 
above Discovery Creek is sometimes called Dome Creek. Iron Creek 
empties into Kruzgamepa River about 12 miles below Salmon Lake. 

Several mines are being worked successfully on this stream and its 
tributaries. During 1906 the Gold Beach Development Company 
built a ditch 13 miles long, which diverts water from Eldorado, Dis- 
covery, and Canyon creeks, for use on Discovery, No. 1, and No. 2 
claims on Iron Creek. 

During 1907 gaging stations were established on Dome Creek 
below the junction of Eldorado and Telegram creeks, and on Iron 
Creek below the mouth of Canyon Creek. The gages were read 
during the low-water period in August by employees of the Gold 
Beach Development Company. 

Measurements on Iron Creek and tributaries, 1906. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Elevation. 


Discharge. 


August 14 


Iron Creek 


Feet. 
450 
425 
630 
630 
750 
750 
740 
740 
760 
760 


Sec-feet. 
a 17. 1 


September 15.. 

August 14 

September 15 . . 

August 13. 

September 15.. 

August 13 

September 15.. 

August 13 

September 15.. 


do 


a 26. 1 




6.0 


do 


5. 


Eldorado Creek 


4.5 


do 


5.6 




1.25 


do 


2.3 




1.3 


..do. 


1. 1 







a Below Canyon Creek. 

Discharge measurements of Dome and Iron creeks, 1907. 

DOME CREEK. 

[Elevation, 630 feet.] 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



August 1 

August 22. . . 
September 18 



Feet. 
0.41 



Sec.-feet. 



IRON CREEK BELOW CANYON CREEK. 
[Elevation, 450 feet.] 



August 1 

August 22 • 

September 19 

a New gage. 



2.09 
ffll.50 
a 1. 38 



IMURUK BASIN DRAINAGE. 



59 





Daily gage height and discharge of Dome and Iron creek 


s, August, 1907. ' 


- 








Iron Creek 






Iron Creek 






Dome Creek 


below Can- 




Dome Creek 


below Can- 






(drainage 


yon Creek 




(drainage 


yon Creek 






area, 20 


(drainage 




area, 20 


(drainage 






square miles) . 


area, 50 




square miles) . 


area, 50 




Day. 




square miles). 


Day. 




square miles). 














































% 


bo 


S 


6 
be 




■a 


be 


xi 

be 




be 




























JS 


cS 


,d 


o3 




& 


o3 


A 


cS 








,d 




Xi 






A 




& 






1 




bo 






bo 




2P 






























o 


A 


O 


ft 




O 


P 


O 


ft 






Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 




Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1 




0.40 
.39 
.38 
.37 
.34 
.31 
.30 
.27 
.24 


25 

24 
23 
22 
20 
18 
17 
15 
14 


2.10 
2.10 
2.10 
2.10 

2.08 
2.08 
2.08 
2.05 
2.02 


52 

52 
52 
52 
50 
50 
50 
47 
43 


12 


0.22 
.26 
.26 
.28 
.55 
.70 


13 
15 
15 
16 
54 
101 


1.90 
1.90 
1.90 
2.00 
2.18 
2.45 


33 


2 


13 : 


33 


3 


14 


33 


4 


15 


41 


5 


16 


62 


6 


17 


100 




Mean 




8 




24.5 




48.5 


9 


Run-off per square 






10 


.22 
.20 


13 
12 


2.00 
1.90 


41 
33 


mile 




1.22 


J .99 


11 


Run-off, in inches.. 




.77_ 


1 .61 









Note.— These discharges are very uncertain, as no measurements were obtained covering the low 
stages. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

Slate and Willow creeks are tributaries of Kruzgamepa River from 
the south, 5 or 6 miles below Salmon Lake. Rock Creek is a branch 
of Slate Creek. These streams will be tapped at an elevation of about 
900 feet by a ditch which is being built to work ground on the left bank 
of Iron Creek. Measurements were made at the proposed intakes. 

Pass, Smith, and Grand Union creeks rise on the north side of the 
Kigluaik Mountains, north of Grand Central River and Gold Run. 
They are fed by the melting of large banks of snow and have a very 
steep slope. A project is contemplated for bringing their waters to 
Coffee and Dahl creeks by means of a pipe line about 18 miles long 
across the flats of Kruzgamepa and Kuzitrin rivers to Coffee Dome. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Kruzgamepa River drainage basin, 1907. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Elevation. 


Discharge. 


July 29 


Pass Creek 


Feet. 
620 
890 
650 
900 
900 
900 


Sec-feet. 
18.1 


Do 


Smith Creek 


40 


Do 


Grand Union Creek. . . . 


12.7 


September 19 . . 


Willow Creek 


3.3 


Do 




11.3 


Do 




9.0 









IMURUK BASIN DRAINAGE. 



The following measurements were made on streams tributary to 
Imuruk Basin to determine their availability and value for water- 
power development. They rise on the northerly slope of the north- 
ernmost ridge of the Kigluaik Range and are fed by large banks of 
perpetual snow. 



60 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Measurements on streams tributary to Imuruk Basin, 1906. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Elevation. 


D S ge |m—*. 


September 5 


Fall Creek 


Feet. 
1,208 
1,212 
1,212 


Sq. miles. Sec-feet. 
5 34 


Do 




3 ' 10 


Do 


Snow Gulch 


2 1 9.7 






I 



SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Sinuk River rises on the southern slope of the Kigluaik Range, 
adjacent to the headwaters of Grand Central River and Thompson 
and Buffalo creeks. It flows in a southwesterly direction, entering 
Bering Sea near Cape Rodney. The upper portion of its drainage 
basin is mountainous, the greater part of it having an elevation of 
over 1,000 feet. The upper valley contains a large amount of glacial 
debris and rock slide. Below the mouth of Stewart River, which 
is the principal tributary, the valley widens out and is almost flat. 
The principal tributaries to the upper stream are Windy Creek and 
the outlet of Glacial Lake from the north and Stewart River from 
the south. 

During 1906 only a few measurements were made and no daily 
discharge has been computed. A fair estimate of the weekly flow 
is given on page 72. During 1907 more measurements were made 
and additional gage readings obtained. 

Three plans by which the water from this drainage basin could 
be brought into the Nome River Valley are outlined in Water-Supply 
Paper No. 196, pages 38-40. The development of such projects 
would be very expensive on account of the rocky nature of the 
ground in the Sinuk drainage basin and the great length of ditch 
required. The Grand Central River and its tributaries, with their 
low-water flow reenforced by storage, will probably furnish as much 
additional water supply as the development of the Nome region will 
require, and at a smaller cost than that at which it could be obtained 
from Sinuk River and Windy Creek. If a large body of ground 
adapted to hydraulic mining should be discovered in the Sinuk Basin 
itself, the river will furnish a good supply of water at a high level. 

UPPER SINUK RIVER. 

The gagings on the upper Sinuk during 1906 and prior to August, 
1907, were made at an elevation of 770 feet, and show the probable 
water supply which could be diverted into Nome River. During 
August and September, 1907, the gaging station was located about 
1| miles farther downstream, at an elevation of about 700 feet. 



SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



61 



Discharge measurements of upper Sinuk River, 1906. 
[Elevation, 770 feet; drainage area, 6.2 square miles.] 



Date. 



June 27 
July 6. 
July 20 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
33 
37 



Date. 



August 3. . 
August 10. 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
20 
23.5 



Daily gage height and discharge of upper Sinuk River, 1907. 
[Elevation, 700 feet; drainage area, 8.2 square miles.a] 





July. 

3 

■8 

02 

s 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


4-2 

3 

O 


1 

s 


3 
P 
O 


3 

Si? 

■s 

s 


3> 

■a 

5 


Si 
bp 
"3 

A 

1 


3 

3 


,£3 

be 

'3 

O 


3 
bo 

O 

s 


1 


Sec.-ft. 

6 70 
60 
54 
40 
48 

6 52 
46 
42 
42 
60 
80 
70 


leet. 

"i."28" 
"i.'27~ 


Sec.-ft. 
36 
35 
34 
31 
29 
26 
24 

c26 
25 
25 
24 

d24 
24 
24 
22 
60 

100 
82 

c70 


leet. 
'1.38" 

"i.32" 

"l."48" 

"i.'ii" 


1 

Sec.-ft. 
55 

d46 
40 
50 
40 

d33 
30 
28 
60 

160 

114 
90 
75 

c65 
58 
52 
46 

6 41 
35 


20 


Sec.-ft. 

80 
100 

60 

56 

48 

42 

38 
636 

29 

24 

28 

32 


Feet. 
'i. - 34" 

"i.'io" 


46 

54 
54 

d37 
34 
32 
50 
62 

c65 
80 

100 
70 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
32 


2 


21 

22 


24 


3 


«7 


4... 


23 

24 




5 






6 


25 . 






7 


26 






8 


27 






9 


28... 






10 


29 






11 


30 






12... 


31 








6 75 j 

62 | 

52 .-. 


Mean .... 
Run-off per 

square mile . . 
Run-off, depth 

in inches 






14... 


52.3 

8.44 
9.73 




45.0 




53.7 


15... 




16... 


44 
40 




;, !<! 


6.55 


17 






6.33 




18 


50 

60 1.49 


5.36 


19 

















a Elevation, 770 feet, and drainage area, 6.2 square miles during July. 
6 Measurement at elevation, 770 feet, 
c Measurement at elevation, 700 feet. 
d Computed from gage reading, 
c Estimated; slush ice running. 

Note.— Other discharges were obtained by plotting a hydrogiaph passing through the known points 
and following the rise and fall of Nome and Grand Central rivers. 



WINDY CREEK. 

Windy Creek, the first large tributary of Sinuk River, lies between 
the main ridge of the Kigluaik Mountains and the headwaters of the 
Sinuk. It adjoins West Fork of Grand Central River, from which 
it may be reached by crossing a high divide. The topography is very 
rough, the creek being entirely lost in some places in the large bowl- 
ders which form its bed. 



62 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 
Discharge measurements of Windy Creek, 1906. 



J une 21. 
June 27. 
July 13. 
July 20. 



Date. 



Elevation 
at point of 
measure- 
ment. 



Feet. 

1,000 

1,100 

a 650 

650 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



17 
114 

48 



Date. 



August 3 

August 10... 
September 6. 



Elevation 
at point of 
measure- 
ment. 



Feet. 



650 
650 
650 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



32 
&35 
&32 



Drainage area, 12 square miles. b Estimated. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Windy Creek, 1907. 
[Elevation, 650 feet; drainage area, 12 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Days. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 

1 


6 

! 

o 

OD 

s 





6 
bp 

o3 

o 
m 

5 


xi 
be 

a 

o3 
° 


6 

1 

03 

s 


§ 

P 
be 

o3 

o 


6 
be 

o3 

o 

m 

5 


<D 

be 

o3 
O 


6 
bo 

o3 
o 
.2 
O 


+3 

9 

0J 

A 

SP 

o 


© 

o3 
o 

s 


1 


Feet. 
1.36 


Sec.-ft. 

a 128 

96 

90 

100 

112 

120 

116 

114 

120 

130 

140 

125 

&128 

105 

85 


Feet. 

..... 


"i.'oi" 
Too' 

:::::: 

L2l' 


Sec.-ft. 

60 

56 

52 

50 

42 

34 

32 

6 35 

34 

34 

32 

a 33 

33 

33 

32 

90 

125 

100 

6 88 


Feet. 

i."i5 

"i.'os" 

"i.~2o" 

"i.'08" 


Sec.-ft. 
72 

«67 
56 
64 
54 

a 43 
38 
36 
80 

200 

140 

110 
90 

a 79 
70 
64 
56 

a 50 
45 


20 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

100 

130 

80 
76 
72 
68 
60 
657 
48 
40 
50 
56 


Feet. 
l."06' 

"i."ii" 


Sec.-ft. 

60 

70 

72 
a45 

42 

40 

68 

80 
670 

90 
120 

82 


Feet. 

:::::: 


Sec.-ft. 
40 


2 


21 




30 


3 




22 




= 15 


4 




23 . 






5 




24 








6 




25.. 








7 




26 








8 




27 

28 


1.13 






9 








10 




29 








11 




1 30 








12 




31 








13 

14 


1.36 


Mean 

Run-off per 

square mile.. 
Run-off, depth 

in inches 






91.5 
7.62 

8.78 




59.2 
4.93 
5.68 




68.1 


15 







16 




74 


5.68 


17 




66 
70 
80 




18 




4.65 


19 

















o Computed from gage reading. 6 Measurements. c Estimated; slush ice running. 

Note. — Other discharges were obtained in the same manner as those of Sinuk River. 



NORTH STAR CREEK. 

North Star Creek lies between Sinuk River and Windy Creek, and 
is a tributary to the latter near its mouth. It is a small stream with 
a steep slope. 

Discharge measurements of North Star Creek, 1906. 
[Elevation, 900 feet; drainage area, 2.3 square miles.] 



Date. 



June 27 
July 6. 
July 13. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



18 1 
16.4 



Date. 



July 20... 
August 3. 
August 10 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



3.9 
3.0 
2.9 



SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN, 



63 



Daily gage height and discharge of North Star Creek, 1907. 
[Elevation, 900 feet; drainage area, 2.3 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


03 

SP 

o 


o5 

XI 

a 
S 


4-> 
03 

SP 

o 




O 

05 

s 


03 


o5 

O 

CO 

s 


I 

bo 
o3 

O 


bo 



CO 

5 


CD 
03 

be 
O 


03 

■s 

03 

s ■ 


bp 

P 

be 

ce 
O 


03 

be 

,d 
03 

s 


1 


Feet. 
1.36 


Sec.-ft. 

a 28 
20 
16 
13 
14 

"16 
14 
13 
14 
16 
20 
22 

a 23 
17 
14 
12 
10 
13 
17 


Feet. 

'0. 94" 
""."97* 

"i.'io" 


Sec.-ft. 

8 

6 

5 

5 

4 
a 4. 8 

5 

5 

5 
6 5.3 

5 

5 

5 

15 
25 
16 
8.3 


Feet. 
'6.92' 

"'."94" 

"i.'os" 
Too" 


Sec.-ft. 

6 4.5 
4 

7 

6 
6 4.8 

4 

4 

4 
40 
30 
20 
14 
6 7.8 

7 

7 

6 
6 5.7 

5 


20 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
24 
30 
20 
16 
13 
10 

8 
a 5,5 

5 

4 

5 

6 


Feet. 
""."97" 

"i."i3" 


Sec.-ft. 

7 

8 

8 
6 5.2 

5 

4 

8 

12 

a 9.1 
14 
20 
10 


""."•75" 


Sec.-ft. 

4 


2 


21 




3 


3 




22 


c2.0 


4 




23 










24 








6 


1.26 


25 








7 


26 -- 






8 


27 

28 


1.03 






'9 








10 




29 








11 




30 








12 




31 








13 

14 


1.33 


Mean 

Run-off per 

square mile. . 
Run-off, depth 

in inches 






14.8 
6.43 
7.41 




8.3 
3.61 
4.16 


f__ 


8.9 


15 






16 




3.87 


17 






18 




3.16 


19 

















o Measurements. 6 Computed from gage reading. c Estimated : slush ice running. 

Note. — Other discharges were obtained in the same manner as those of Sinuk River. 

STEWART RIVER. 

Stewart River lies south of upper Sinuk River, to which it is tribu- 
tary. It drains an area of limestone and schist hills. The flow is 
small and the stream of minor importance. 

Discharge measurements of Stewart River, 1906. 
[Elevation, 400 feet.] 



Date. 



July 15. 
July 17. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



Date. 



July 30.... 
August 19. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
a 26 
11.4 



a Estimated. 



SLATE CREEK. 



Slate Creek is the second tributary to Stewart River from the north. 
The following measurements give approximately the flow that can 
be diverted into Nome River over Divide Creek: 



Discharge measurements of Slate Creek, 1906. 
[Elevation, 700 feet; drainage area, 2.1 square miles.] 



July 15. 
July 17. 



Date. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
6.7 
4.4 



Date. 



July 30.... 
August 19. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



2.8 
2.2 



64 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 19.06-1907. 
OTHER SINUK RIVER DRAINAGE. 



For measurements on Josie, Irene, and Jessie creeks, which are 
small tributaries of Stewart River, see "Cedric ditch." 

CRIPPLE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Cripple River enters Bering Sea about 12 miles west of Nome, and 
drains an area of about 88 square miles. As yet but little mining 
has been done in this section, except in the vicinity of Oregon and 
Hungry creeks. Some small ditches have been constructed at the 
headwaters of Cripple River, the principal one being the Cedric, 
which diverts water from the Stewart River drainage area. 

CEDRIC DITCH. 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

The Cedric ditch was built in 1905 to divert water from Josie and 
Jessie creeks (tributary to Stewart River) over the divide to the 
Cripple River basin for use on Oregon, Hungry, Trilby, and Nugget 
creeks. After passing the divide it picks up water from upper Oregon 
(two forks), Slate, and Aurora creeks, which are its principal feeders, 
and from Daisy Swift Creek, Snowshoe Gulch, and three other small 
gulches. It has a total length of about 19 miles and a width of 4 to 8 
feet. The elevation of the head is about 870 feet and of the outlet 
790 feet. The capacity of the lower half is about 25 second-feet. 
Water is carried across Oregon Creek near the outlet by a syphon 
2,970 feet long, of 30-inch riveted steel pipe. There are about 6 miles 
of distributing ditches at the lower end. 

The following measurements were made to determine the amount 
of water available for the ditch : 

Water available for Cedric ditch, 1906-7. 



. Stream. 


1906. 


1907. 


July 15-17. 


July 30-31. 


August 19. 


August 31. 




Sec.-ft. 

3.0 

1.0 

b.3.2 

6 6.8 

4.0 

4.8 

.5 


Sec.-ft. 
1.5 

a 8 
2.6 
2.6 
2.0 
2.1 


Scc.-ft. 
1.1 
o.4 
.6 


Sec.-ft. 
«2.0 




03.0 


Jessie Creek 

Upper Oregon Creek 

Slate Creek 


a3.0 
a3.5 




3.1 






2.4 


















18.3 


11.6 




17.0 









aEstimated. 

^Measured below ditch level; only about half this amount is available for the ditch. 



CRIPPLE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



65 



Seepage measurements on Cedric ditch, 1906. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Loss. 


Dis- 
tance. 


Loss per 
mile. 


July 30 

Do 

Do 




Sec.-ft. 
2.6 
1.9 
3.9 
3.1 
5.2 
4.7 
4.5 
2.5 


Sec.-ft. 


Miles. 


Sec.-ft. 


Above Slate Creek 

Below Slate Creek 


0.7 


2.3 


0.3 


July 31 

Do 




.8 


1.8 


.4 






Do 




.5 

.2 

2.0 


2.0 

.6 

3.7 


.25 


Do 




.3 


Do. . 




.5 












4.2 


10.4 


.4 









CEDRIC DITCH ABOVE PENSTOCK. 



This station was established to determine the total flow of the ditch. 
The gage was located just above the penstock of the siphon across 
Oregon Creek. Part of the water was used in a giant connected with 
the bottom of the siphon and part was used for hydraulicking about 
one-fourth mile above the siphon. 

Discharge measurements of Cedric ditch above penstock, 1907. 



Date. 



July 22 

August 30 — 

August 31 

September 19 



Above penstock. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



0.80 
.78 
.76 
.10 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
10.3 
8.6 
7.9 




Discharge 

to upper 

giant. 



Srx.-ft. 



3.0 
4.4 
5.0 



Daily gage height and discharge of Cedric ditch above penstock, 1907. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


1 

03 

A 

05 

3P 

o 


6 
$ 

o3 
A 
o 

ft 


I 

03 

A 

03 

o 


6 
&? 

o3 
A 

A 


% 
53 

A 

03 

bfi 

c3 

o 


03 
el 

s 


03 

A 

1 


1 

A 
o 

ft 


03 

A 

SP 


i 

03 
A 
o 
03 

s 


i 

03 

A 

bo 

o3 
C5 


03* 

o3 

■s 

03 

s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.00 

1.02 

1.02 

1.05 

.95 

.88 

.80 

.92 

.90 

.90 

.88 

.90 

.95 

.98 

.98 

1.05 

1.05 


Sec.-ft. 
13.1 
13.5 
13.5 
14.0 
12.2 
10.8 
9.3 
11.6 
11.2 
11.2 
10.8 
11.2 
12.2 
12.7 
12.7 
14.0 
14.0 


Feet. 

0.95 

.85 

.98 

.88 

.95 

.95 

.98 

.95 

1.05 

1.20 

1.25 

1.15 

1.05 

1.02 

1.10 

1.02 

1.05 


Sec.-ft. 
12.2 
10.2 
12.7 
10.8 
12.2 
12.2 
12.7 
12.2 
14.0 
16.9 
17.8 
16.0 
14.0 
13.5 
15.0 
13.5 
14.0 


18 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.08 

1.15 

1.08 

1.10 

1.10 

.95 

.95 

1.05 

1.20 

1.10 

1.05 

1.00 

.85 

.80 


Sec.-ft. 
14.6 
16.0 
14.6 
15.0 
15.0 
12.2 
12.2 
14.0 
16.9 
15.0 
14.0 
13.1 
10.2 
9.3 


Feet. 
1.05 

"."65" 

.68 
.60 
.60 
.62 
.58 
.52 
.50 


Sec.-ft. 
14.0 


2 






19 









3 






20 . 









4 ... 






21 . 









5 






22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 


0.80 

.88 

1.00 

.98 

1.00 

.90 

.88 

1.00 

1.10 

1.05 


9.3 
10.8 
13.1 
12.7 
13.1 
11.2 
10.8 
13.1 
15.0 
14.0 





6 






6.6 


7 






7.1 


8 






5.7 


9 






5.7 


10 






6.1 


11 






5.4 


12 






4.5 


13 






4.2 


14 








15 










16 








12.3 




12.9 




9.6 


17 





















35283— irr 218—08- 



66 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



PENNY RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Penny River rises about 13 miles from the seacoast and enters 
Bering Sea about 10 miles west of Nome. Its basin lies between 
Snake and Cripple rivers and has a total area of 36 square miles. 
Two ditches have been built by the United Mining Company. The 
Sutton ditch has its intake one-half mile above the mouth of Willow 
Creek and extends about 6 miles to a point near the mouth of Jess 
Creek. The water is used for hydraulicking on the second beach line, 
which lies about 1,200 feet back of the present beach. The Highline 
ditch, uncompleted, has its intake 7 miles above the Sutton ditch and 
will extend to Sunset Creek, a distance of about 11 miles. The water 
is carried across Honey Creek in a pipe line 2,000 feet long. 

PENNY RIVER AT SUTTON INTAKE AND SUTTON DITCH. 

Gaging stations were established on Sutton ditch and Penny River 
just below the ditch intake, and the sum of the discharges gives the 
natural flow of the river at this point. The gages were read by 
employees of the United Mining Company. 

Discharge measurements of Penny River and Sutton ditch at intake, 1906-7. 

PENNY RIVER. 



Date. 



August 1 . 



1906. 



1907. 



July 4. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



Date. 



Gage 
height. 



1907. 

July 4 

July 22 

September 1 . 



Feet. 
.82 
1.30 
.99 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 

12.6 

42 

16.3 



SUTTON DITCH. 



1906. 



August 1 . 



July 4. 



1.20 



30 



1907. 

July 4 

July 22 

September 1 . 



1.49 
1.11 
1.32 



PENNY RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



67 



Daily gage height and discharge of Penny River and Sutton ditch at intake, 1907. 





July. 


August. 


September. 




River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


Day. 


bp 

'53 
A 
<s 

SP 

o 


6 

■s 

to 

ft 


§ 
3 

a> 
to 

a 
O 


6 

■8 

03 
ft 


§ 
53 

as 

8P 

o 


ai 
& 

o3 
o 

03 
ft 


3 
a> 
of 

O 


aj 

S> 

o3 

■s 

03 
ft 


bp 
'3 

03 

of 

O 


P 

Xi 

8 

ft 


bp 

"3 

S3 

be 

o 


aj 
o 

03 
ft 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
71 
56 
41 
26 
26 
44 
152 
79 
44 
44 
44 
34 

55 • 
67 
34 
34 
34 
34 
67 
44 
67 
44 
34 
55 
55 
79 
67 
67 
55 
67 
79 


Feet. 

"i.y 

1.2 

1.25 

1.2 

1.2 

1.25 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.2 

1.1 

1.1 

1 1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1 1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.0 

1.0 

1.0 

1.0 

.9 

.8 

.7 


Sec.-ft. 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
32 
29 
29 
32 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
23 
18 
18 
18 
18 
13 

9 

6 


Feet. 

"i.'e" 

1.4 

l.i 

1.1 

.8 

.8 

.7 

.7 

.7 

.6 

1.4 

1.2 

1.1 

.9 

.8 

1.0 

.9 

.8 

.8 

1.0 

1.3 

1.3 

1.3 

1.2 

1.2 

1.1 


Sec.-ft. 
85 
85 
' 85 
85 
85 
79 
55 
26 
26 
10 
10 

7 

7 

7 

4 
55 
34 
26 
14 
10 
19 
14 
10 
10 
19 
44 
44 
44 
34 
34 
26 


Feet. 

"6." 8" 
.8 
1.0 
1.0 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
-1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.25 
1.3 
1.25 
1.25 
1.3 
1.3 
1.5 
1.2 
1.2 
1 2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 


Sec.-ft. 











9 

9 
18 
18 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
32 
35 
32 
32 
35 
35 
47 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 
29 


Feet. 

1.0 

1.0 

1.0 

1.0 

.9 

.9 

.9 

.9 

1.0 

2.1 

1.8 

1.6 

1.0 

1.0 

1.8 

1.8 

1.7 

1.3 

1 3 

1.3 

1.3 

1.2 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.0 

.9 

.9 

.8 


Sec.-ft. 

19 

19 

19 

19 

14 

14 

14 

14 

19 
140 
103 

79 

19 

19 
103 
103 

91 

44 

44 

44 

44 

34 

26 

26 

26 

26 

19 

14 

14 

10 


Feet. 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1 3 
1.3 
.5 

^8 
1.3 
1 3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 


Sec.-ft. 
35 


2 




35 


3 . 




35 


4 


1.1 
1.1 
1.3 
2.2 
1.6 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.2 
1.4 
1.5 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.2 
1.5 
1.3 
1.5 
1.3 
1.2 
1.4 
1.4 
1.6 
1.5 
1.5 
1.4 
1.5 
1.6 


35 


5 


35 


6 


35 


7 


35 


8 


35 


9 


35 


10 


35 


11 


35 


12 


35 


13 


35 


14 


35 


15 





16 





17 


9 


18 


35 


19 


35 


20 . 


35 


21 . 


35 


22 


35 


23 


35 


24 


35 




35 


26 


35 




35 


28 . 


35 


29... 


35 


30 


35 


31 


















54.8 




23.9 




35.3 




23.8 




33.9 




31.8 









Monthly discharge of Penny River at Sutton intake, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 19 square miles.] 





Discharge in second-feet. 


Run-off. 


Month. 


Maximum. 


Minimum. 


Mean. 


Sec.-ft. per 
sq. mile. 


Depth in 
inches. 


J uly 


181 
88 
175 


55 
33 
45 


78.7 
59.0 
71.1 


4.14 
3.11 
3.74 


4.77 


August 

September 


3.58 
4.17 






92 days 


181 


33 


69.6 


3.66 


12.52 







Note.— These values are the sum of the discharges of Sutton ditch and of Penny River below the 
ditch intake. 

Discharge measurements of Penny River at Highline intake, 1906-7. 



Date. 



August 1. 



1906. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 

7.8 



Per cent 

of Sutton 

intake. 



Date. 



1907. 



July 22.... 
August 30. 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
15.9 
15.6 



Per cent 
of Sutton 
intake. 



68 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 
SNAKE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Snake River empties into Bering Sea at Nome. It has a drainage 
area of 110 square miles, which contains some of the richest mining 
ground in Seward Peninsula, notably the claims on Glacier, Anvil, and 
Little creeks. Owing to its slight fall the use of the main stream for 
mining purposes is limited to ground sluicing. All the available water 
from its tributaries is being used, and water is diverted into this area 
by the Miocene ditch, the Seward ditch, and the Nome River ditch of 
the Pioneer Mining Company. 

SNAKE RIVER ABOVE GLACIER CREEK. 

A station was established June 25, 1907, just above the mouth of 
Glacier Creek, to determine the discharge of this stream and the rela- 
tion of the run-off from its drainage basin to that from areas in and 
near the Kigluaik Mountains. The run-off per square mile during the 
period covered by the records was 56 per cent of that of Nome 
River and 38 per cent of that of Kruzgamepa River. 

The gage was read by A. H. Clambey. 

Discharge measurements of Snake River above Glacier Creek, 1907. 



Date. 



June 25 
July 3. 
July 20 



Gage 
height 



Feet. 
1.88 
1.20 
1.13 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 
527 
168 
147 



Date. 



August 10... 
September3. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
.89 
1.01 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



72 
112 



Daily gage height and discharge of Snake River above Glacier Creek, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 69 square miles.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.35 
1.30 
1.25 
1.18 
1.22 
1.32 
1.50 
1.35 
1.25 
1.25 
1.28 
1.25 
1.20 
1.20 
1.18 
1.10 
1.12 
1.10 
1.18 
1.18 
1.20 
1.18 
1.16 
1.22 


Sec.-ft. 
235 
212 
191 
163 
178 
221 
308 
235 
191 
191 
204 
191 
170 
170 
163 
135 
142 
135 
163 
163 
170 
163 
156 
178 


Feet. 
1.05 
1.02 
1.00 
1.00 
.96 
.95 
.96 
.94 
.92 
.92 
.91 
.90 

]97 
.90 
1.04 
1.10 
1.10 
1.05 
1.00 
1.05 
1.01 
.99 
1.00 


Sec.-ft. 
120 
111 
105 
105 
94 
91 
94 
89 
83 
83 
80 
77 
99 
97 
77 
117 
135 
135 
120 
105 
120 
108 
102 
105 


Feet. 

1.08 
1.05 
1.05 
1.05 
1.04 
1.03 
1.02 
1.08 
1.08 
1.15 
1.90 
1.68 
1.52 
1.47 
1.50 


Sec.-ft. 
129 


2 






120 


3 






120 


4 






120 


5 






117 


6 






114 


7 






111 


8 






129 


9 






129 


10 . 






152 


11 




540 


12 


"T" 


408 


13 


1" 


319 


14 






293 


15 






308 


16 








17 










18 










19 










20 










21 










22 


::::::::::: 






23 








24 




i... 







FLAMBEAU, ELDORADO, AND SOLOMON DRAINAGE BASINS. 69 

Daily gage height and discharge of Snake River above Glacier Creek, 1907 — Continued. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


25 


Feet. 
1.90 
1.85 
1.80 
1.55 
1.45 
1.40 


Sec.-ft. 
540 
510 
.480 
335 
283 
258 


Feet. 
1.30 
1.22 
1.18 
1.12 
1.08 
1.08 
1.05 


Sec.-ft. 
212 
178 
163 
142 
129 
129 
120 


Feet. 
1.02 
1.08 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.08 


Sec.-ft. 
Ill 
129 
135 
135 
135 
135 
129 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


26 






27 






28 :.. 






29 






30 






31 
















Mean 




401 . 
5.81 
1.30 




177 
2.56 
2.95 




108 
1.56 
1.80 


207 


Run-off per square mile 






3.00 






1.67 









FLAMBEAU AND ELDORADO RIVER DRAINAGE BASINS. 

Flambeau and Eldorado rivers rise near Salmon Lake and now in a 
southerly direction to Bering Sea near Cape Nome. 

The Flambeau Hastings ditch has its intake on the upperjork of 
Flambeau River and is to be built to Hastings Creek, near Cape Nome. 
Another ditch to Hastings Creek is projected, which will divert the 
water to Eldorado River below Venetia Creek, and will have a length 
of over 30 miles. The following measurements were made at the 
proposed intake of this ditch: August 14, 1906, 44 second feet; Sep- 
tember 17, 1907, 225 second feet. 

SOLOMON RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Solomon River empties into Bering Sea at Solomon, 40 miles east 
of Nome. This stream has been a good producer of gold, and sev- 
eral ditches have been built to utilize its water and that of its tribu- 
taries, including the East Fork ditch of the Solomon River Hydraulic 
Company, the Midnight Sun ditch from Big Hurrah Creek, the Brogan 
ditch from the mouth of Johns Creek to East Fork, and a ditch about 
7 miles long on Coal Creek. 

A ditch has been started by the Three Friends Mining Company to 
furnish power for its dredge on Solomon River. It will take water 
from the river just below East Fork and extend to a point below the 
mouth of Shovel Creek, where a head of 75 feet will be available. 

Discharge measurements in Solomon River drainage basin, 1907. 



Date. 


Stream and locality. 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


October 1 


Solomon River below Johns Creek. ... 


Sq. miles. 
66 


Sec.-ft. 
43 


Do 


Brogan ditch at intake 


7.7 




Solomon River below East Fork 


40 
10 






50.7 


October 2 


96 


Do 


East Fork ditch 


17 










113 



70 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



FLOW OF DITCHES IN NOME REGION. 

The following table has been prepared to show in a concise man- 
ner the flow of the ditches which take their water supply from Nome 
River and its tributaries, and from near-by streams. It is also of 
value for comparison with the discharge of the streams from which 
the water is taken, to show the percentage of flow that can be deliv- 
ered by a ditch at the point where it is to be used. 

Monthly discharge of ditches in Nome region, 1907. 



Ditch. 


Point of measurement. 


Yearly- 
maximum. 


July 


August. 


Septem- 
ber. 


Campion 


Black Point 


Sec.-ft. 
18.0 
42.6 
37.0 
34.9 
54.7 
55.2 
16.5 
8.2 
13.4 
29.0 


Days. 
25 
29 
29 
29 
31 
31 
15 
20 
23 
21 
26 
16 


Sec.-ft: 

9.0 

28.0 

25.4 

23.6 

43.8 

45.1 

11.3 

4.9 

5.7 

23.9 

5.2 

20.4 


Sec.-ft. 

12.9 

34.4 

28.7 

27.4 

45.3 

44.0 

11.8 

6.1 

6.2 

26.2 

4.3 

22.2 


Sec.-ft. 
12.5 




do 


38.7 


Do, 


Clara Creek 


33.7 


Do 


Above Hobson 


31.8 


Do 


Below Hobson 


47.9 


Do 


Flume 


50.4 


Do 


David Creek branch |. . . 


9.0 


Do 


Jett Creek branch 


a 6.1 


Do 


Grand Central branch 


9.0 


Seward 


Nome River intake 


25.7 


Do 


Hobson Creek branch 


4.5 


Pioneer 


Nome River intake b 


26.8 


21.8 


Do 


Hobson Creek branch 


5.8 


Sutton 


Intake 


35.0 

17.8 


31 
10 


23.9 
12.3 


23.8 
12.9 


31.8 


Cedric 


Penstock 


9.6 









a Mean for 14 days. 

b Values for Pioneer ditch have been estimated at 85 per cent of those for Seward ditch; this was the 
proportion during the time for which records were obtained on both ditches. 



AVAILABLE WATER SUPPLY DURING 1906 AND 1907. 

In order to show the amount of water that was available during 
1906 and 1907 for hydraulicking the placers near Nome, the mean flow 
of the streams in each drainage basin has been tabulated by weekly 
periods in the table on page 72. In using this table the following 
points should be noted : 

The "Nome River high-level flow" represents the total amount 
of water in that river above the Miocene ditch, including the flow 
of the Campion ditch, David Creek, and Hobson Creek. The flow 
of the springs on Hobson creek has been taken as 14 second-feet 
during 1906 except for the first week in July, when it did not exceed 
10 second-feet. 

The "Nome River low-level flow" includes all additional water 
down to Pioneer ditch. The drainage area of Nome River below 
the Miocene and David Creek intakes and above the Pioneer intake 
is 18 square miles. The run-off from this area for the period in 
August, 1907, during which records were kept was at about the same 
rate per square mile as at the Miocene intake. The low-level flow 
has therefore been taken as 1.2 times the natural flow at the Miocene 
intake, where the drainage area is 15 square miles. To this has been 



AVAILABLE WATER SUPPLY OF NOME REGION. 



n 



added 60 per cent of the discharge of Hobson Creek at the Miocene 
intake, this being approximately the amount entering that stream 
between the Miocene and Pioneer intakes. 

" Upper Grand Central River/' etc., includes the station below the 
forks and those on Thompson Creek and Gold Run, and gives the 
amount that can be brought over the Nugget divide. 

The mean flow of " Nugget, Copper, and Jett creeks" gives the 
amount that can be brought over the Nugget divide, and for 1906 was 
estimated from the few measurements obtained. 

The flow of "Sinuk River, Windy and North Star creeks/ ' has been 
estimated for an elevation of 800 feet, which is as low as the water can 
be taken over the divide into Nome River. The amount of this flow 
for 1906 was obtained by taking 70 per cent of the flow of Grand 
Central River below the forks, this precentage being determined as 
follows : 

Comparison of flow of Grand Central River below forks with that of Sinuk River and its 
tributaries at elevation of 800 feet. 



Date. 



June 26, 27.. 

July 6 

July 13 

July 20 

August 3... 
August 10.. 
September 6 



Sinuk 
River. 



Sec.-ft. 

33 

37 
(75) 

36 

20 

23.5 
(20) 



Windy 
Creek. 



Sec.-ft. 
22 
(35) 
86 
36 
24 
26 
24 



North 

Star 

Creek. 



Sec.-ft. 
10 
18 
16 
4 
3 
3 
(3) 



Total. 



Sec.-ft. 
65 
90 
177 
76 
47 

52.5 
47 



Grand 
Central 
below 
forks. 



Sec.-ft. 
105 



198 
100 
67 
65 
67 



Sinuk, 

Windy, and 

North Star 

in per cent 

of Grand 

Central. 



The drainage area of Grand Central River lies on the north side of 
a ridge of the Kigluaik Mountains, and the basins of Sinuk River and 
Windy and North Star creeks lie adjacent to it on the south side of 
the same ridge. On the days when measurements of flow were made 
of the streams on both sides of the mountains it was found, as shown 
in the preceding table, that the flow on the south side was from 62 to 
89 per cent of the flow on the north side. It is, therefore, conservative 
to say that the average combined flow of Sinuk River and Windy and 
North Star creeks was 70 per cent of the flow of Grand Central River 
below the forks. 

During the season of 1907 gaging stations were maintained on all 
the streams which are summarized below, and their daily discharge 
is given elsewhere. 

The following table should not be taken as indicating the water 
that can be used. This will, of course, be limited by the capacity of 
ditches that can be built economically. In the economical construc- 
tion of a ditch the size will depend largely upon the duration of the 



72 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



low-water flow. This will probably limit the size in most cases to 
twice the minimum, except for short ditches. 

Mean weekly water supply, in second-feet, available for use back of Nome, 1906-1907 '. 



Date. 



Available 
for use at 
elevation 
220 to 280 
feet. 



Nome 
River low- 
level flow. 



Available for use at elevation 400 to 450 feet. 



Nome 
River high- 
level flow. 



Upper 

Grand 

Central, 

Thompson, 

and Gold 

Run. 



Nugget, 
Copper, 
and Jett 
creeks. 



Sinuk 

River, 

Windy and 

North Star 

creeks. 



Total. 



1906. 

July 1-7 

July 8-14 

July 15-21 

July 22-28 

July 29-August 4 

August 5-11 

August 12-18 

August 19-25 

August 26-September 1 

September 2-8 

September 9-18 

September 19-30 

Mean 

Maximum 

Minimum 

1907. 

July 1-7 

July 8-14 

July 15-21 

July 22-28 

July 29-August 4 

August 5-11 

August 12-18 

August 19-25 

August 26-September 1 

September 2-8 

September 9-15 

September 16-23 

September 24-30 

Mean 

Maximum 

Minimum 



43 
155 

52 
43 



81 
130 



120 



45 
144 
58 
49 
42 
45 
53 
84 
128 
73 
53 
118 



153 
a 343 
179 
156 
101 
108 

91 
138 
202 
101 

68 
250 



173 
90 

79 
50 
49 
42 
62 
94 
51 
36 
125 



72 
155 
36 



74 
144 
42 



158 

343 

68 



78 
173 
36 



135 
102 
84 



49 
47 
72 
51 
176 
60 
45 



199 
152 
107 
77 
59 
49 
62 
61 
89 
63 
204 
76 
56 



( 6 ) 



292 
228 
183 
144 
107 
190 
245 
318 
142 
418 
115 



( b ) 



152 
172 
113 
105 

77 
50 
95 
86 

124 
72 

167 
62 



(*) 



74 
176 



96 
204 
49 



216 
418 
107 



109 

172 
50 



324 
796 
378 
325 
223 
236 
228 
352 
540 
287 



375 
796 



522 
745 
583 
440 
335 
250 
409 
454 
621 
342 
1,005 
337 
116 



473 
, 005 
116 



a Too small, no record of highest water. 

b No record. No water could have been used from Grand Central River the first week in July, on 
account of snow; nor from either Grand Central or Sinuk rivers the last week in September, on 
account of ice. 

DITCH AND PIPE LINES. 



In order to bring the water to the gold-producing ground between 
Capes Nome and Rodney at sufficient elevation to be used for hydrau- 
licking and sluicing, nearly 300 miles of ditch and pipe line have 
been constructed and several extensive additional systems are now 
under construction or consideration. The first ditch in this section 
was built in 1901, by Leland, Davidson, and Bliss, from upper Glacier 
Creek to Snow Gulch. This ditch demonstrated the practicability 
of ditch systems in this country and was the beginning of the Miocene 
system. 



DITCH AND PIPE LIKES, NOME REGION. 73 

Ditches are usually built so as to follow the contour approximately 
with grades limiting the velocity to about 2 feet per second, which is as 
high as the material in this section will stand without scour. The 
ditches are therefore for the most part on slopes, and are constructed 
by making a cut from 12 to 18 inches deep to grade at the lower bank. 
This bank is then built up by material from the excavation. The 
slopes of the banks are from 1:1 to 1 J: 1, depending on the material. 

The work of constructing a ditch is usually divided into three 
classes — team work, pick and shovel work, and rock work. Teams 
may be used in handling dry soil that contains only medium-sized 
rock. This is the fastest method, and the compacting of the lower 
banks by the horses and scrapers makes it much tighter than when 
the dirt is thrown in loose. Pick and shovel are used in loose rock, 
in wet soil, and in frozen ground from which the top is removed as it 
thaws from the surface. Rock must be blasted, unless it is fissured 
limestone, which may be loosened with the crowbar, or decomposed 
schist, which yields to the pick. In building through solid rock, a 
shelf is blasted out about 1 foot below grade and wide enough to 
carry the ditch and the lower bank, which is built of rocks. The 
bottom and sides are lined with sod about 1 foot thick, and are pud- 
dled with clay. In rock slide the method is similar. A good example 
of this kind of construction was seen on the Grand Central branch 
of the Miocene system. The ditch was built through a pile of large 
bowlders, unmixed with any soil or gravel. A trench was made 1 
foot deeper and 2 feet wider than the finished ditch. The sides of 
the trench were lined with a slope wall, laid 1 to 1, to a height of 4 or 5 
feet. The outer slope of the lower bank was also rock wall, laid some- 
what flatter. The ditch will be lined with sod and will be tight and 
permanent. 

The use of sod is very common and economical, and saves much 
piping and fluming that would otherwise be necessary. The sod in a 
short time settles and knits together, and thus becomes a very ser- 
viceable bank. It will not cut or wear out, and the older it gets the 
better it becomes. In this way a ditch can be made over perpetually 
frozen ground, where otherwise it would be impossible. Much ditch 
has to be constructed over loose stones with little or no sediment 
between them. Such ditches must be lined with sod and all holes 
must be filled by tamping sod into them as far as possible. This 
being done, it will be found that the water traveling through the 
ditch will deposit sediment over the sod and that after a little while 
it will become tight. 

Canvas is also used as a lining to make a ditch water-tight. Wil- 
lows with the tops left out, so that they may grow, are utilized in 
embankments with success. 



74 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

In construction over "glacier," which is the term used for frozen 
muck mixed with ground ice, the ditch is either built wholly on top 
of the sod covering or an excavation is made and lined with sod. 
Ditches over this material are expensive to maintain, owing to the 
thawing of the ice by the running water. 

One of the most interesting pieces of construction over glacier is 
the flume on the Miocene ditch. This flume is 1,100 feet long, and 
has a width of 8 feet and a depth of 28 inches. It was constructed 
in 1901, and is now in practically perfect alignment, both horizontal 
and vertical, and no repairs have been necessary on it. In putting 
in the foundation, trenches were dug 3 or 4 feet deep in the frozen 
ground, which was practically all ice. The excavated material was 
covered to protect it from thawing. A sill was laid in the bottom of 
the trench and the uprights fastened to this sill. The excavated 
material was then replaced in the trenches and froze again into the 
original condition. Sod was carefully placed over the trench. The 
uprights were then sawed off to grade and the flume constructed on 
them. 

Inverted siphons are built across deep ravines where their use will 
save expense and reduce loss by seepage. Most of these are riveted 
steel pipe. Joints are made by lapping the ends from 4 to 6 inches. 
Siphons must be weighted down and protected by rock to prevent 
injury by frost and snowslides. During 1906 two siphons were built 
on the Seward ditch, across Clara and Hobson creeks, continuous 
wood-stave pipes with steel bands being used. 

On account of the rapid surface run-off during hard rains, it is 
necessary to have waste gates at short intervals. The most common 
waste gates consist either of a flume as deep as the bottom of the 
ditch, in which the height of the water is regulated by flashboards, 
or of a long weir, laid on the ground surface, which will spill the water 
when it reaches a certain level. 

Ditch intakes consist of a dam or barrier across the stream, con- 
taining one or more waste gates, and head gates for regulating the 
flow into the ditch. In order to divert the entire flow of a stream, 
a bed-rock dam must be built to stop the ground flow through the 
gravelly beds. Such a dam is made by cutting a trench across the 
stream bed, extending down to an impervious stratum, and filling 
it with sod, which is carefully laid and tamped. The dam should 
be protected from erosion with large flat rocks or riprap. 

Frozen ground, inadequate facilities for transportation, and the 
high cost of help a and supplies make ditching very expensive. To 
the first cost of a ditch should be added the cost of maintenance for 
the first three years, during which time extensive repairs are neces- 

o Laborers receive $. r ) per day and board; blacksmiths, cooks, etc., $6. 



DITCH AND PIPE LINES, NOME REGION. 



75 



sary. On many ditches these repairs cost as much as the first con- 
struction. At the end of three years ditches are, as a rule, in fairly 
permanent condition and the cost of maintenance is greatly reduced. 
Such information as could be obtained shows that the cost of a ditch 
carrying from 1,000 to 2,000 inches, including the first three years' 
maintenance, is from $5,000 to $10,000 per mile. Owing to dangers 
from washouts and landslides it is necessary to have the ditch con- 
stantly patrolled. 

Owing to the frozen condition of the ground it is not practicable 
to use ditches much before the 1st of July, as the surface does not 
become fully thawed until that time, and during the thawing period 
the ground becomes very soft and. there is great danger of damage 
by washouts. 

The following table gives a list of the principal ditches in this 
region. Some of the data given are only approximate, as it was 
necessary to obtain them by inquiry. 

Ditches between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney, Seward Peninsula. 





Prom- 


To- 


Length. 


Date 
com- 
pleted. 


Bot- 
tom 
width 


Fall 
per 
mile. 


Ca- 
pac- 
ity. 


Elevation. 


Name. 


Head. 


Out- 
let. 


Miocene Ditch 
Co.: 
Main ditch... 

Feeding lat- 


Nome River. .. 
Hobson Creek. 
The Ex 

Upper Glacier 
Creek. 

Grouse Creek.. 

Upper New El- 
dorado Creek. 

David Creek... 

Jett Creek 

Grand Central 

River. 
The Ex 

New Year 

Gulch. 
Kanoma Gulch, 

Glacier Creek 

Nome River 
below Doro- 
thy Creek. 

Crater Lake . . . 

Nugget Divide. 

Pumping plant. 
No. 3, below 
Little Creek. 

No. 2, above 

Anvil Creek. 
No. 4, above 

Anvil Creek. 
Nome River, 

above Clara 

Creek. 


Hobson Creek. 

The Ex 

Snow Gulch... 
The Ex 

Flume 


Miles. 
13 
14 

4 

2 

4 
10 

1.8 

3.5 

8 

4 

4 

61,800 

38 

8 
35 

7 
3 

0.75 
1.25 

38 


1903 
1902 
1901 
1901 


Feet. 
8 
10 

8 


Feet. 
4.5 
3.37 
6.5 


Sec- 
feet. 
40 
55 
55 
6 

10 
6 

18 

10 
80 

16 

40 


Feet. 
572 
500 
445 

"742' 
590 

806 
850 

445 

417 
420 

408 
963 


Feet. 
500 
445 
420 
445 


erals. 






478 




Buster Creek.. 

Nome River 
above main 
intake. 

Nugget Divide. 
do 


1907 
1905 

1906 

(«) 

1907 
1904 

1906 

(a) 
(a) 

"*i902" 

1902 
1903 
1907 










5 

3.5 
8-10 

' 6 

8 

c 4x7 

10 

d 42 
d48 

dl8 
4 

5 

G 

8 


5.28 

6 
5 

3.17 

5.28 


580 

785 
785 


Distributing 
laterals. 

Tunnel 


Grass Gulch... 

Cooper Gulch.. 

New Year 
Gulch, Anvil 
Creek. 

Anvil Creek... 

Nugget Divide. 
Anvil Moun- 
tain. 
do 


432 
396 

417 


Wild Goose Min- 
- ing and Trad- 
ing Co.: 
Seward 

Pipe, line 


3.17 

15 
10 

"5.*3 ' 

7 
3.17 


32 

60 
70 

6 
6 

4-6 

10-12 

30 


274 










Pumping plant. 

No. 1, below 
Anvil Creek. 

Moonlight Res- 
ervoir. 

Little Creek . . . 






Pioneer Mining 
Co.: 
South bank . . 






North bank.. 








320 


200 



a Under construction. 
b Feet. 



c Cross section. 

d Diameter in inches. 



76 WATEB SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Ditches between Cape Nome and Cape Rodney, Sevjard Peninsula — Continued. 





From— 


To— 


Length. 


Date 
com- 
pleted. 


Bot- 
tom 
width. 


Fall 

per 
mile. 


Ca- 
pac- 
ity. 


Elevation. 


Name. 


Head. 


Out- 
let. 


United Ditch Co.: 
Sutton 


Penny River.. . 
do 

Josie Creek 

Buffalo 

New Eldorado 
Creek. 

Gold bottom 

Creek. 
Divining 

Glacier Creek.. 

Twin Moun- 
tain Creek. 

Last Chance 
Creek. 

No. 7, Otter 
Creek. 

Head of Flam- 
beau River. 

No. 3, below 
Anvil Creek.. 

West bank 
CrippleRiver 

Buffalo Creek.. 


Beach 


Miles. 
6 
10.5 

19 
4 
9 

12 
6 

2.5 
10 

4 

1 
29 

2.5 
11 

4 


1905 
(a) 

1905 
1903 
1907 

(a) 
1902 


Feet. 
20-15 

7 

4-8 
6 
14 


Feet. 
3.12 
4.22 

4 
7.5 


Sec- 
feet. 
40 

25 
28 
50 

20 
10 

5 
20 
18 

3 
20 
16 
50 

10 


Feet. 
120 

420 

870 
610 


Feet. 
90 


Highline 

Miscellaneous: 

Cedric 

Campion 

Peninsula 


Sunset Creek . . 

Hungry Creek. 
Dorothy Creek. 
Osborn Creek. . 

Balto Creek . . . 

Glacier Creek, 
opposite 
Snow Gulch. 

Opposite 
Snow Gulch. 

Alpha Creek... 

Pioneer Gulch.. 
Mouth 


790 
580 


H y d raulic 
Co. 
No rthland 


390 




Mining Co. 
Hot Air 








Price and 






175 
500 

460 




Tremper. 
GoldenDawn. 


(«) 
1903 
1904 
1906 








Corson Min- 








ing Co. 
Plein 








Fl ambeau 


Hastings Creek 
Little Creek.... 
Fox Gulch 

Boer Creek 










Hastings. 
Capt. Peter- 










son. 
CrippleRiver 


(a) 
1906 


8-10 
4 


4 
6 






Hydraulic 

Mining Co. 

Jour den- 

Cummings. 


1,000 





"Under construction. 



WATER-POWER POSSIBILITIES. 

Owing to the great value of water in this region for use in working 
the auriferous gravels but little attention has been given to power 
development. In various portions of the peninsula there are, how- 
ever, excellent power sites whose development is feasible from both 
an engineering and a financial standpoint. The scarcity of fuel 
makes steam power very expensive, and it is probable that much of 
the future mining, especially along the tundra back of Nome and 
along the larger streams, will be carried on by dredging or by some 
form of elevating in which power will play an important part. With 
this in view, the attention of capitalists should be directed to the 
consideration of power possibilities. 

Work has been begun at Salmon Lake on the construction of a 
dam. (See p. 54.) The Three Friends Mining Company has started 
a ditch on Solomon River to develop power for its dredge. 

Many streams in the Kigluaik Mountains, notably the glacier-fed 
torrents on their northern slope, are available for developments 
under a high head. 



THE KOUGAROK REGION. 

By Fred F. Hbnshaw. 
INTRODUCTION. 

In 1907 the investigation of streams begun the previous year in the 
Nome region was extended to the Kougarok region. Owing to the 
large area that had to be covered and the lack of railroad or other 
transportation facilities only a few regular stations were maintained, 
and on most of the streams only a few discharge measurements were 
made. The work was carried on by the writer, who was in this 
district from July 15 to September 18. 

In the present report the name Kougarok region is used to include 
not only most of the Kougarok precinct, but parts of the adjoining 
Port Clarence and Goodhope precincts. The drainage basin of 
Kruzgamepa River, though included in the Kougarok precinct, has 
already been considered with the Nome region, with which it more 
naturally falls. 

A summary of the records in this region is combined with one for 
the Nome region (see p. 95), in order to afford a comparison of con- 
ditions in the two districts. - 

DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 

The Kougarok region lies northeast of the Kigluaik Mountains, in 
the central portion of Seward Peninsula. It is about 50 miles 
square, embracing the drainage basin of Kougarok River and parts 
of the adjoining basins of Noxapaga, Serpentine, and American 
rivers. 

Most of this area is comprised in an upland which represents a 
former level of erosion. The flat-topped ridges of the hills lie at an 
elevation of 1,000 to 1,600 feet. Several mountain masses rise above 
the level of the plateau, notably Kougarok, Midnight, and Baldy 
mountains. Into this plateau the river channels are deeply cut. The 
streams flow in steep canyons, above which one or more levels of 
benches can usually be traced. The rivers drain southward into 
the Kuzitrin, which flows through the broad lowland basin separat- 
ing this region from the Kigluaik Mountains. 

77 



78 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

The general slope of the rivers from source to mouth is more 
uniform than in the Nome region. The fall occurs mostly in riffles 
separated by pools of slack water. The stream beds are narrower 
and have shallower gravel deposits than most of the streams south 
of the mountains. (See PL VIII, A, p. 80.) 

A large portion of the area, probably 40 to 60 per cent, is under- 
lain with frozen muck and ground ice, which was observed in some 
places to have a thickness of 25 to 30 feet. This is covered with 
moss, and unless exposed by stripping never thaws deeper than a 
few inches. 

CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. 

In general the water supply of the Kougarok region comes from 
the same sources as that of the Nome region, namely, summer rains, 
melting of snow, and melting of frozen ground. 

The difference in rainfall between this area and that south of the 
mountains is striking. The totals of 2.51 and 2.7.9 inches for Shelton 
and Taylor, respectivly, are only about one-sixth of the total at 
Grand Central and only one-third to one-half of those of the other 
three rainfall stations. (See p. 137.) The Kougarok region is in a 
measure cut off from the comparatively abundant rainfall of the 
Nome region by the Kigluaik Mountains. This high and steep 
range causes most of the moisture from the southerly winds to be 
precipitated on its southern slope, leaving little to be carried into 
the region farther north. The northerly winds bring heavy clouds 
and fog banks from the Arctic Ocean, but they yield little rain. 

In 1907 there was no rain in this region until the middle of July 
and very little until a month later, so that the run-off up to August 1 
came mostly from melting snow. During the three weeks of ex- 
tremely low water that followed the water must have been derived 
from the melting of the ground and the snow banks that still remained, 
partly from springs, and only to a slight degree from the rainfall. 

The ground is all frozen muck, and is so protected by moss that it 
never thaws more than a few inches. There can be no regulation of 
flow by ground storage, therefore, and the rain finds its way into the 
streams immediately after it falls. This effect is more marked here 
than in the Nome region. Thus, on July 24, 1907, the flow of Taylor 
Creek rose from 10 to 186 second-feet in two or three hours, and four 
days later had fallen again to about 13 second-feet. 

But little definite information can be obtained in regard to climatic 
conditions in former years in the Kougarok region. The last season 
was one of drought in that region, whereas the water supply south of 
the mountains was plentiful. The most reliable information that 
could be obtained was to the effect that the low-water periods of 1900 



VATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. VII 




MAP. 




MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS AND DITCHES IN KOUGAROK REGION. 



KOUGAKOK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



79 



and 1906 were fully as long and as severe as that of 1907. During 
the week of August 10 to 16, 1907, the flow at all the gaging stations 
remained nearly constant, and was probably as low as it would have 
become had the weather continued dry, as practically all the water 
must have come from springs and from the melting snow. Whenever 
there occurs a period of two weeks or more in midsummer without rain, 
the flow is likely to become as small as in 1907. 



GAGING STATIONS. 



The following is a list of the points in the Kougarok region at which 
gages were established or discharge measurements made in 1907. 
The numbers refer to PL VII. 

Gaging stations in Kougarok region. 



1. Kougarok River below Washington 

Creek, Washington Creek, and Irv- 
ing ditch. 

2. Kougarok River at Homestake intake 

and Homestake ditch. 

3. Kougarok River above Taylor Creek. 

4. Kougarok River above Coarse Gold 

Creek. 

5. Homestake ditch at penstock. 

6. Columbia Creek. 

7. Macklin Creek. 

8. Homestake Creek. 

9. Taylor Creek at North Star intake. 

10. Taylor Creek at Cascade intake. 

11. Taylor Creek at mouth. 

12. North Star ditch above siphon. 

13. Cascade ditch. 

14. Henry Creek at ditch intake. 

15. Henry Creek at mouth. 

16. Lincoln Creek at ditch level. 



17. Lillian Creek. 

18. California Creek. 

19. Arctic Creek. 

20. Arizona Creek. 

21. Coarse Gold Creek. 

22. North Fork at Northwestern intake. 

23. North Fork above Eureka Creek. 

24. Eureka Creek. 

25. Windy Creek and ditch. 

26. Coffee Creek and ditch. 

27. Turner Creek at McKays intake. 

28. Boulder Creek. 

29. Noxapaga River above Goose Creek. 

30. Schlitz Creek. 

31. Reindeer Creek. 

32. Bryan Creek. 

33. Quartz Creek. 

34. Bismark Creek. 

35. Budd Creek spring. 

36. Budd Creek below Windy Creek. 



KOUGAROK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



DESCRIPTION OF BASIN. 

Kougarok River drains a large area lying in the central portion of 
Seward Peninsula and empties into the Kuzitrin about 8 miles above 
Lanes Landing. It rises southeast of Kougarok Mountain and flows 
northward, then eastward, and after making a sharp bend to the 
right flows a little east of south to its mouth. The largest tributaries 
are Taylor Creek and North Fork from the east, and Henry, Coarse 
Gold, and Windy -creeks from the west. Of less importance are 
Washington, Columbia, Macklin, Homestake, Goose, California, 



80 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Arctic, Arizona, Louisa, Galvin, and Dan creeks, and Left Fork. 
Quartz Creek, which empties into the river below those named above, 
and its tributaries, Coffee, Dahl, Checkers, Carrie, and Independence 
creeks, have been the most important gold producers of the region, 
but have a very small run-off except at times of heavy rain. 

KOUGAROK RIVER BELOW WASHINGTON CREEK. 

The following measurements were made to determine the water 
supply available for the ditch of the Irving Mining Company, which 
is about 200 feet higher than the Homestake ditch: July 27, 4.5 
second-feet; August 12, 2.2 second-feet; September 9, 122 second- 
feet. 

KOUGAROK RIVER AT HOMESTAKE INTAKE AND HOMESTAKE DITCH. 

These stations are located about 100 yards below the intake of 
Homestake ditch (see PL VIII, A), and the sum of their discharges 
gives the total flow of the river at this point. The gage was read by 
employees of the Kugarok Mining and Ditch Company. 

Discharge measurements of Kougarok River at Homestake intake and Homestake ditch, 

1907. 

KOUGAROK RIVER. 



Date. 



July 15... 
Do... 
July 20... 
August 9. 
August 12 
August 19 

July 15... 
Do... 
Do... 

July 20... 
July 29... 
August 12 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1.24 


18.0 


1.13 


6.6 


1.08 


2.0 


.92 


3.1 


.90 


2.2 


.92 


3.3 



Date. 



August 22 

September 1 . . 
September 4.. 
September 10. 
September 11. 



HOMESTAKE DITCH. 



Dis- 
charge. 




0.51 


11.6 


.45 


10.2 


—.05 


.4 


.36 


8.1 


.20 


5.7 


—.04 


1.5 



August 19 

Do 

August 22.... 
Do 

September 10. 



.27 
.62 
.75 
.44 



7.4 

7.3 

17.6 

23.0 

12.0 



U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. VIII 




A. INTAKE OF HOMESTAKE DITCH ON KOUGAROK RIVER. 




B. HOMESTAKE DITCH, SHOWING SOD WORK. 



KOTTGAKOK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



81 



Daily gage height and discharge of Kougarok River at Homestake intake and Homestake 

ditch, 1907. 





July. 


August. 


September. 




River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


River. 


Ditch. 


Day. 


1 
<D 

SP 

© 


6 
o 

DO 

s 


53 

<£ 

bo 

© 


03 

s 


§ 

53 

P 

OJO 

03 
© 


03 

o 

00 

3 


i 

1 

of 

© 


o3 

■s 

to 

s 


■ 1 

1 
© 


aJ 

1 

o 

S 


i 

1 

03 
© 


1 

1 

GO 

s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
0.4 
.4 
.4 
.4 
.4 
.4 
.4 
.4 
3.2 
2.2 
2.2 
2.2 
1.7 
2.2 
2.7 
2.7 
2.7 
3.2 
3.2 
2.7 
48 
93 
72 
24 
67 
35 
29 
17 
5.8 
5.0 
.5 


Feet. 

0.25 

.15 

.18 

.32 

.28 

.20 

.16 

.10 

.06 

-.02 

-.03 

-.04 

-.06 

-.06 

-.08 

-.08 

+.04 

.12 

.28 

.18 

.60 

.61 

.61 

.63 

.58 

.59 

.66 

.62 

.61 

.69 

.57 


Sec.-ft. 

6.8 

4.8 

5.3 

8.5 

7.5 

5.7 

4.9 

3.8 

3.2 

2.0 

1.8 

1.7 

1.5 

1.5 

1.2 

1.2 

2.8 

4.2 

7.5 

5.3 

17.0 

17.4 

17.4 

18.2 

16.3 

16.6 

19.4 

17.8 

17.4 

20.6 

16.0 


Feet. 
1.01 
1.15 
1.12 
1.35 
1.57 
1.44 
1.28 
1.16 
1.78 
2.56 
1.86 
1.54 
1.33 
1.17 
1.74- 
1.50 
1.22 
1.11 
1.04 
1.10 


Sec.-ft. 

10.8 

22 

20 

42 

71 

53 

35 

23 
110 
336 
124 

67 

40 

24 
- 99 

61 

29 

18.9 

13.2 

18.0 


Feet. 

0.62 
.66 
.68 
.64 
.58 
.64 
.64 
.65 
.69 
.55 
.62 
.65 
.66 
.66 
.66 
.68 

!70 

.62 
.30 


Sec.-ft. 
17.8 


2.. 












19.4 


3 .. 












20.2 


4 












18.6 


5 












16.3 


6 












18.6 


7 












18.6 


8 












19.0 


9 










0.92 

.90 

.90 

.90 

.89 

.90 

.91 

.91 

.91 

.92 

.92 

.91 

1.40 

1.71 

1.58 

1.17 

1.54 

1.28 

1.22 

1.09 

.96 

.95 

.89 


20.6 


10 










15.2 


11 










17.8 


12 










19.0 


13 










19.4 


14 










19.4 


15 


1.24 


18 

3.0 

3.0 

3.0 

3.0 

2.9 

2.0 

1.6 

.4 

14.0 

1.3 

.4 

.4 

4 

.4 

.4 

.4 


b'.m 

.40 
.31 
.34 
.62 
.55 
.49 
.42 
.26 
.22 
.21 




13.0 
12.0 
10.0 
9.0 
8.0 
9.0 
6.7 
7.4 
15.4 
15.2 
13.2 
11.1 
7.1 
6.2 
5.9 
6.4 


19.4 


16 


20.2 


17 




20.6 


18 




21.0 


19 




17.8 


20 


1.08 
1.05 
1.04 
1.00 
1.20 
1.03 
1.00 
.88 
.89 


8.0 


21 




22. . 










23... 










24 








25 










26 










27 










28 










29 










30 












31 




























3.2 




9.2 




13.9 




8.9 




60.8 




18.3 









Note.— Discharges for July 16 to 19 are estimated. All water was carried in the ditch from July 26 to 
August 8, inclusive, except the seepage through the diversion dam, which was estimated. During this 
time about 2 second-feet was turned out of the first waste gate to furnish a sluice head for operators 
who were working in the river bed below. 

Monthly discharge of Kougarok River at Homestake intake, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 44 square miles.] 





Discharge in second feet. 


Run-off. 


Month. 


Maximum. 


Minimum. 


Mean. 


Sec.-ft per 
sq. mile. 


Depth in 
inches. 


July 15-31 


29 
110 
351 


6.3 
3.2 
26 


12.4 
22.8 
79.1 


0.28 

.52 

1.80 


0.18 


August 


.60 


September 1-20 


1.34 






68 days 


351 


3.2 


36.8 


.84 


2.12 







Note. — These values include the discharge of both the river and Homestake ditch, as given in the 
previous table. 

35283— irr 218—08 6 



82 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

KOUGAROK RIVER ABOVE TAYLOR CREEK. 

The following measurements were made just above the mouth of 
Taylor Creek, to compare the flow of the two forks at their junction, 
and to determine the discharge available for a ditch at this level: 
July 26, 18.5 second-feet; Jury 29, 8 second-feet; August 10, 5.1 
second-feet. 

KOUGAROK RIVER ABOVE COARSE GOLD CREEK. 

Between the mouths of Taylor Creek and North Fork, Kougarok 
River has a meandering .course, with well-marked benches along 
most of the distance. At the mouth of Coarse Gold Creek it makes 
a bend which brings two points more than 2 miles apart by river within 
560 feet of each other in a straight line. A tunnel through this neck 
would drain the gravels in this stretch of river bed and make them 
accessible for working, and would also render available a considerable 
water power. The difference in level of the water surface at the two 
ends of the tunnel is about 17 feet. An outcrop of rock which crosses 
the river just below the proposed tunnel intake would make a fairly 
good dam site. A gaging station was established at this point July 
15, 1907. The gage was located just above the rock outcrop men- 
tioned above, where the channel is permanent, and was read by 
William Ellis. The bench mark is a cross on the highest point of a 
rock near the left bank, about 200 feet above the tunnel entrance; 
elevation, 2.18 feet above the datum of the 1907 gage. 

The discharge at this station also gives the water supply that would 
be available for a low-line ditch to Dahl Creek. Such a ditch is 
proposed. It will have its intake on Kougarok River below Dreamy 
Gulch and on Henry Creek near the mouth, and will extend to Dahl 
and Coffee creeks, a distance of over 30 miles. Only a small per- 
centage of the water enters the river between these proposed intakes 
and the gaging station. 

Discharge measurements of Kougarok River above Coarse Gold Creek, 1907. 



Date. 



July 14 
July 21 
July 23 
July 30 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1.11 


89 


.86 


51 


.74 


36 


.64 


33 



Date. 



Gage | Dis- 
height. | charge. 



' Feet. \ 

Augusts : 0.44 j 

August 14 ! . 40 i 

August 23 ! 2.22 

August 26 j 1.95 I 



Sec.-ft. 

19 

17 

460 

323 



KOUGAKOK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Daily gage height and discharge of Kougaroh River above Coarse Gold Creek, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 250 square miles.] 



83 





July. 


August. 


September. 




July. 


August. 


September. 
















_,j 




+j 




■ 




Day. 


f 


& 


§> 


6 


§ 


6 


Day. 


A 

'53 


be 


3 




§> 








o3 




o3 


A 


o3 




A 


o3 


A 


o3 


A 


03 






A 




A 




3 






A 




A 




A 




* 




1 


M 


bD 

c3 


' CO 




of 


to 


of 


m 


o3 


00 




O 


3 


O 


ft 


o 


ft 




O 


P 





A 


O 


ft 




Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 




Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


1 






0.70 
.63 
.60 
.63 
.60 
.57 
.50 
.46 
.38 
.38 
.38 
.37 
.39 
.40 
.40 


35 
31 
29 
31 
29 
27 
23 
21 
16 
16 
16 
16 
17 
17 
17 


2."i5" 

2.10 
1.80 

'3.50' 

"i.'so" 

2.23 


210 
230 
205 
280 
500 
430 
400 
270 
600 
1,240 
550 
350 
270 
478 
600 


19 

20 

21 

'22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

Mean 


0.90 

.84 

.82 

.82 

.75 

1.14 

1.58 

1.20 

1.06 

.83 

.70 

.66 

.72 


54 

47 

45 

45 

39 

96 

200 

109 

81 

46 

35 

33 

37 

67.2 


1.12 
1.08 
1.68 
2.25 
2.22 
2.19 
2.22 
1.99 


92 
84 
229 
490 
472 
454 
472 
341 
280 
240 
210 
360 
190 
141 




160 


2 






130 


3 








4 










5 










6 










7 










8 










9 










10 










11 










12 . 




..» 






13 










14 


1.09 
1.03 


86 
75 




388 


15 


Run-off 


per 




16 


.98 


67 


.43 


19 




380 


square 


mile . 


.27 




- .56 




1.55 


17.. 


.90 


54 


.50 


23 




270 


Run-off, 


depth 












18 


.94 


60 


1.03 


75 




200 


in inches 


.18 




.65 




1.15 



Note.— Discharges for days when gage was not read were estimated with the aid of a hydrograph. 

IRVING DITCH. 

The Irving ditch was built in 1906, and has its intake on Kou'garok 
River at the mouth of Washington Creek. It extends for 4$ miles 
along the north bank of the river to a point opposite the mouth of 
Columbia Creek, where a head of 160 feet is obtained. 

The following measurements were made of the discharge of the 
ditch: August 12, 1.8 second-feet; September 9, 12.4 second-feet. . 

HOMESTAKE DITCH. 

The Homestake ditch of the Kugarok Mining and Ditch Company 
was begun in 1905 and completed in 1907. It diverts the water 
from the upper Kougarok, near Mascot Gulch, and extends along the 
left bank of the river to a point opposite the mouth of Homestake 
Creek, having a total length of 7i miles. The water is carried across 
Macklin Creek in a siphon 843 feet long, of 36 and 34 inch pipe. 

Above Macklin Creek the ditch is built into the rocky bluffs of 
close-grained schists and slates for about 1 mile. Below the siphon 
some ground ice was encountered, and also a large amount of loose 
rock mixed with ice and frozen muck, which gave much trouble. 
Nearly half of the length of the ditch had to be lined with sod, some 
parts requiring both sides and bottom of this material. (See PL 
VIII, B.) In 1907 a lateral ditch was built to Macklin Creek. It is 
6,300 feet long and 4 feet wide on the bottom. 



84 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



The water was used during the latter part of 1906 in the bed of the 
river just above Taylor Creek. A waste ditch was formed by a 
retaining wall built on one side of the channel, but at times this was 
overtopped and the workings flooded. The discharge at such times 
was estimated at 600 to 800 second-feet. 

During the season of 1907 the water was used on the John L. bench 
claim, on the right bank of the river below Homestake Creek. A head 
of about 150 feet is available on this claim. 

Two stations were maintained on the ditch, at the intake and just 
above the penstock. The discharge at the intake is given on page 81. 

The station above the penstock was maintained during the high- 
water period of 1907, to determine the amount of water used at the' 
mine. The gage was read by employees of the Kugarok Mining and 
Ditch Company. 

Discharge measurements of Homestake ditch above penstock, 1907. 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


August 21 


Feet. 
1.19 
1.49 
1.47 


Sec.-ft. 
9.1 
15.6 
15.0 


August 26 


Feet. 
1.60 
1.74 


Sec.-ft. 
18.0 


Do 




21.0 













Daily gage height and discharge of Homestake ditch above penstock, 1907. 





August. 


September. 


Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet 
1.76 
1.70 
1.62 
1.75 
1.54 
1.70 
1.70 
1.70 
1.72 
1.52 
1.74 
1.75 
1.76 
1.76 
1.76 
1.74 
1.76 


Sec.-ft. 
21.5 
20.2 
18.4 
21.3 
16.7 
20.2 
20.2 
20.2 
20.6 
16.2 
21.1 
21.3 
21.5 
21.5 
21.5 
21.1 
21.5 


18 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.76 
1.68 
1.15 


Sec.-ft. 
21.5 


2 






19 






17.8 


3 






20 






8.4 


4 






21 


1.34 
1.48 
1.54 
1.54 
1.60 
1.60 
1.56 
1.58 
1.58 
1.68 
1.70 


12.3 
15.4 
16.7 
16.7 
18.0 
18.0 
17.1 
17.6 
17.6 
19.8 
20.2 




5 






22 






6 






23 






7 






24 






8 






25 






9 






26 






10 






27 






11 






28 






12 






29 






13 






30... 






14 






31 


















16 








17.2 




19.6 


17 





















TAYLOR CREEK AT NORTH STAR INTAKE. 

Taylor Creek is the longest tributary of Kougarok River and is 
larger than the main stream at their junction. It rises near the 
headwaters of Noxapaga and Goodhope rivers and flows in a south- 
westerly direction. Its principal tributaries are Midnight, Solomon, 
Jim, Brown, Rock, and Arizona creeks. Two ditches have been 



KOtTGAKOK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



85 



built on Taylor Creek — the North Star, with its intake about 3 miles 
above Solomon Creek, and the Cascade, which takes out water about 
5 miles farther downstream. 

The following measurements were made at North Star intake to 
determine the water supply available for the ditch: July 17, 12 second- 
feet; July 24, 174 second-feet; August 10,3.8 second-feet; September 
13, 94 second-feet. They indicate a discharge of 75 to 90 per cent of 
that at the Cascade intake; the drainage area is 58 square miles, or 
78 per cent of that at the lower point. 

TAYLOR CREEK AT CASCADE INTAKE. 

This station was established to determine the total water supply 
of the two ditches on Taylor Creek. It is located about 100 yards 
above the diversion dam of the ditch. During August and Sep- 
tember a part of the discharge of the creek was diverted past the 
station in the North Star ditch; the amount of this diversion is 
given on page 87. • The gage was read by employees of the Cascade 
Mining and Ditch Company. 

Discharge measurements of Taylor Creek at Cascade intake, 1907. 



Date. 



July 17 
July 24 
July 26 



Gage 


Dis- 


height. 


charge. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft, 


0.67 


16 


1.65 


186 


.93 


43 



Date. 



August 10 
August 21 
August 24 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
0.49 
1.95 
1.30 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
4. 



Daily gage height and discharge of Taylor Creek at Cascade intake, 1907. 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August . 


September. 


Day. 


i 

be 

'3 
X5 

OJ 

bfi 

03 
O 


too 
u 

03 

■3 


I 

5 

be 
oS 
O 


a3 

Be 

si 

5 


'3 
A 

§P 

O 


3 
o3 

5 


bfi 

'3 

o> 
be 

03 
O 


6 

■s 

5 


■cj 
bp 

'3 

<D 

be 
o$ 

O 


3 
be 

03 

03 

s 


I 

3 

£1 
0J 

be 

03 

O 


03 

hi 

s 


1.. ....... 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


% Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

7 

7 

7 

6 

6 

6 

5 

5 

4.6 

4.6 

4 

4 

2.5 

3.9 

4.6 

5.0 

9.2 


Feet. 
1.12 
1,24 
1.15 
1.25 
1. 55 
1.36 
1.25 
1.00 
1.24 
2.40 
1.80 
1.45 
1.30 
1.15 
1.60 
1.30 
1.15 


Sec.-ft. 

67 

87 

72 

89 

152 

110 

89 

50 

87 

430 

220 

129 

98 

72 

164 

98 

72 


18 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 

20 

15 

13 

13 

12 

10 

186 

80 

43 

25 

13 

8 

8 

8 


Feet. 
0.84 
1.15 
.95 
1.60 
1.48 
1.38 
1.25 
1.65 

1.39" 

1. 20 

1.65 
1.20 


Sec.-ft. 

32 

72 

44 
164 
136 
114 

89 
178 
147 
116 

98 

80 
178 

80 


Feet, 
1.00 


Sec.-ft. 
50 


2 








19 




45 


3 








20 




35 


4....... 








21 






5 








22 








6 1 




« 


23 








7 






24 

25 


1.65 






8 








9 1 






26 

27 


.93 






10 




0.49 






11 






28,.. 








12 








29... 








13 






.31 
. .42 


30... 








14 






31 








15 




20 
18 
16 


.47 
.50 
.57 


Mean. . 








16 







29.9 




52.2 




111 


17 


0.67 









Note.— Discharges for days on which gage was not read were obtained by the aid of a hydrograph. 



86 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Monthly discharge of Taylor Creek at Cascade intake, 1907. 
[Drainage area, 74 square miles.] 



Month. 



July 15-31 

August 

September 1-20. 



days. 



Discharge in second-feet. 



Maximum. Minimum. Mean 



186 
186 
441 



3.9 
35 



3.9 



29.9 
54.2 
119 



Run -off. 



Sec.-ft. per Depth in 
so. mile. inches. 



0.40 

.73 

1,61 



0,25 

.84 

1.20 



2.29 



Note.— These values include the discharge of both the creek and North Star ditch; for daily dis- 
charge of the ditch see page 87. 



TAYLOR CREEK AT MOUTH. 

The following measurements of Taylor Creek were made near the 
mouth, to compare its discharge with that of Kougarok River above 
the mouth of Taylor Creek and to determine the discharge avail- 
able for a ditch at this level: July 17, 18 second-feet; July 26, 46 
second-feet; July 29, 9.6 second-feet; August 10, 7.2 second-feet. 

NORTH STAR DITCH ABOVE SIPHON. 

The North Star ditch of the Taylor Creek Ditch Company was 
begun in 1905 and completed in 1907. It diverts water from Taylor 
Creek about 12 miles above its mouth and about 3 miles above the 
mouth of Solomon Creek. The ditch lies on the left bank for the 
first mile, then crosses the creek in a flume and continues on the 
right bank to a point 7 miles below the intake. Here it crosses 
Taylor Creek in a siphon 2,600 feet long, composed of 40-inch steel 
pipe, riveted throughout, there being no slip joints. The pipe is 
carried across the creek on a suspension bridge about 100 feet long. 
The difference in elevation between the ends of the siphon is 19 feet, 
and the depression at the bottom 150 feet. Below the siphon the 
ditch receives the flow of Rock Creek and continues to Arctic Creek, 
having a total length of 15.2 miles. 

Water was turned into the ditch at the intake about August 5, 
but was not run through the siphon until about the 20th. The 
water was used on the Thorson bench, on the left bank of Kougarok 
River, and for stripping on Dreamy Gulch, a small tributary from 
the east. 

The station above the siphon was established to determine the 
amount of water diverted past the gage at the Cascade intake. 
The quantity used at the mines includes in addition the discharge 
of Rock Creek. The gage was read by employees of the Taylor Creek 
Ditch Company. 



KOUGAROK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



87 



Discharge measurements of North Star ditch above siphon, 1907. 



Date. 



August 10 
August 21 . 
August 24. 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
a 2. 9 
5.0 
0.0 



Date. 



September5. . 

September 13. 

Do 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.14 
1.24 



Dis- 
charge. 



Sec.-ft. 
7.0 
9.7 
o8.0 



a Measured at intake. 
Daily gage height and discharge of North Star ditch above siphon, 1907. 





August. 


September. 


Day. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.21 
1.16 
1.11 
1.16 

■1.18 
1.17 
1.18 
1.14 
1.14 
1.28 
1.30 
1.22 
1.25 
1.24 
1.30 
1.28 
1.22 


Sec.-ft. 
8.8 
7.5 
6.2 
7.5 
8.0 
7.8 
8.0 
7.0 
7.0 
11.3 
12.0 
9.2 
10.2 
9.9 
12.0 
11.3 
9.2 


18 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.22 


Sec-ft. 
9.2 


2. . . . 






19 . , 








3 






20 










4 






21 
















22 


1.04 
1.09 


5.0 

5.8 




G 






23 




7 






24 




8 






25 


1.18 
1.14 
1.05 
1.15 
1.18 
1.14 
1.16 


8.0 
^7.0 

5.2 
7.2 
8.0 
7.0 
7.5 


1 


9... 




..:::::: 


26 


1 


10.. . 






27 




11 






28 ...... . 


I 


12 






29 , 


t 


13 




a 1.5 


30 




14 




31 




15 






Mean 




16 








&6. 2 


I 9.0 


17 














1 







a Estimated. 



b Ten days. 



CASCADE DITCH. 



The Cascade ditch was built in 1906. It diverts water from Taylor 
Creek about 7 miles above its mouth and 110 feet lower than the 
North Star ditch. For the first quarter of a mile the ditch lies on 
the left bank of the creek; it then crosses to the right bank in a flume 
about 60 feet long, and extends within a half a mile of the mouth of 
Taylor Creek, having a total length of 6J miles. The flow of the ditch 
was very irregular during 1907, on account of breaks, repairs, and 
interruption of work at the mine. The water was used to run a 
hydraulic elevator in the bed of Taylor Creek. The water supply of 
the ditch was insufficient for this purpose during the first two weeks 
of August, and the pit was flooded on account of insufficient waste-way 
capacity most of the time after August 20. 

The following measurements were made of the discharge of the 
ditch : 

Discharge measurements of Cascade ditch, 1907. 



Date. 


Place. 


Discharge. 


August 10 


Flume near intake ... 


Sec.-ft. 

4.4 


August 18... .- 


Near penstock 


5.8 


August 21 


do 


4.5 


September 5 


do... 


7.1 









88 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



HENRY CREEK. 

Henry Creek, which enters Kougarok River about 2 miles below 
the mouth of Taylor Creek, is the largest tributary from the west, 
and in dry weather furnishes the steadiest high-level water supply 
in the Kougarok drainage area. Its headwaters lie south of the 
upper Kougarok River and adjoin those of Budd Creek on the west. 
Lincoln Creek, which rises between Henry and Coarse Gold creeks, 
is the most important tributary. Lillian Creek enters from the 
north, about 4 miles from the mouth. 

The Henry Creek ditch, which was built by the T. T. Lane Com- 
pany in 1905 and 1906, extends from Henry Creek about 2 miles 
above the mouth of Lincoln Creek to a point near the mouth of Home- 
stake Creek, and has a total length of 10| miles. An additional 3^ 
miles would divert Lincoln Creek. No water was running in the 
ditch in 1907. It is now the property of the Taylor Creek Ditch 
Company. 

Measurements were made at the ditch' intakes and also at the 
mouth. The total flow at ditch level on the dates when it was 
measured was about 70 per cent of that at the mouth, and has been 
estimated as the same proportion for days when measurements were 
made only at the mouth. 

Discharge measurements of Henry and Lincoln creeks, 1907. 



,Date. 



Henry 
Creek at 
mouth. 



At ditch level. 



Henry Lincoln T _ tal 
Creek. Creek. Iotal " 



July 16 , 

July 25 

July 30 

August 9 

August 13 

August 20 

August 23 

August 26 

August 29 

September 6. . 
September 12. 



Sec. -ft. 



22.0 
9.6 
8.2 
6.8 

12.0 

60 

34 

27 

55 



Sec.-ft. 
10.0 

7.4 



2.7 
5.0 



Sec.-ft. 
8.2 
8.0 



2.3 
3.3 



Sec 



-ft. 

18.2 

15.4 
6.8 
5.7 
5.0 
8.3 

42 

24 

19 

38 

83 



The following measurements ot Lillian Creek show the amount of 
water it would contribute to the Henry Creek ditch: July 16, 1.0 
second-feet; August 20, 0.6 second-feet; September 12, 6 second-feet. 



COARSE GOLD CREEK. 



Coarse Gold Creek is one of the larger tributaries of Kougarok 
River. It has a total length of about 16 miles, and flows in a north- 
easterly direction, entering the river about 25 miles above the mouth. 
The creek is relatively flat in its upper portion, and has a fall of 40 
to 80 feet per mile in the lower 6 miles. 



KOTJGAKOK EIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



89 



The Coarse Gold ditch, constructed in 1907, has its intake about 
5 miles above the mouth, and is built along the south slope of the 
valley, picking up the flow of Jones Gulch and Nugget Gulch. It 
extends about 5 miles to Two-bit Gulch, a small tributary of 
Kougarok Kiver, where a head of nearly 300 feet is obtained. Meas- 
urements were made near the mouth of the creek. They show the 
water supply available for the ditch, as practically the whole flow 
is diverted. 

Discharge measurements of Coarse Gold Creek near mouth, 1907. 



Date. 



July 21... 
July 30... 
August 8. 
August 12 
August 23 



Discharge 



Sec.-ft. 
7.8 
3.5 
3.4 
3.0 
44 



Date. 



August 26. . . 
August 28... 
September 6. 
September 8. 
September 15 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 



29 
30 
29 
22 
156 



NORTH FORK. 

North Fork is formed by the junction of French and Alder creeks 
and enters Kougarok River from the east, about a mile below the 
mouth of Coarse Gold Creek. Its principal tributaries are Harris, 
Baldy, Monument, Queen, Magnet, and Eureka creeks. Harris 
Creek is dry during low water for the lower 4 miles, the water flowing 
underground through the limestone which forms its bed. The flow 
of North Fork also is underground for over a mile, and appears again 
as a spring about a mile above Harris Creek. 

In 1906 the Northwestern Development Company began a ditch 
which has its intake just below the junction of French and Alder 
creeks, extends along the north bank about 3 miles, and then crosses 
in a siphon to the south bank. Six miles of ditch are completed. 

A lower ditch is proposed which will take its water above Eureka 
Creek and will extend to Dahl Creek. Measurements were made to 
show the water available for both ditches. 

Discharge measurements of North Fork, 1907. 



Date. 



July 22 

August 15 

August 27.. , 

September 7 

September 15 

a Estimated 



At North- 
western in- 
take (drain- 
age area, 20 
squaremiles) 




Above Eu- 
reka Creek 
(drainage 
area, 66 
squaremiles). 



Sec.-ft. 



13.0 
9.6 
103 

70 
122 



90 



WATER SUPPLY iN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



MISCELLANEOUS MEASUREMENTS. 

Measurements of a number of the smaller streams and ditches in 
the Kougarok drainage are given in the following table.- Their 
location is indicated on the map (PI. VII, p. 78). Macklin Creek is 
tapped about 1 mile from the mouth by a branch of the Homestake 
ditch. The Okdurok ditch diverts the flow of Homestake Creek. 

The Arizona Creek ditch is 2 miles long and is built to the benches 
of the Kougarok, having an elevation of 185 feet above the river. 
The Windy Creek ditch is 4 miles long and gives a head of 150 feet 
above the creek at Anderson Gulch, where the water is used for 
ground sluicing. The McMonagle, Dolan & McFadden, and Blocker 
& Sayle ditches divert water from Kougarok River between the 
Homestake intake and Macklin Creek, and are used to furnish a 
sluice head for shoveling into boxes. 

Miscellaneous measurements in Kougarok River drainage basin, 1907. 

CREEKS. 



Date. 



July 21...... 

August 26 . . . 
September 6 . 
August 29 . . . 
September 8. 
August 29 . . . 

July 12 

July 27 

September 9 . 
September 7 . 

July 22 

August 22... 
September 6 . 
August 19... 
August 22... 
September 11 
August 12 . . . 
September 9 . 

July 13 

July 31 

August 8 



Stream and locality. 



Arctic, near mouth 

do 

do 

Arizona, including ditch 

do 

California, near mouth 

Coffee, near Wonder Gulch. 

Columbia, near mouth 

do 

Eureka, near mouth 

Harris, claim 15 , 

Homestake, including ditch. 

do 

Macklin, including ditch. . . . 

do 

do 

W ashington, near mouth . . . 

do.-. 

W indy, including ditch 

do 

....do 



Discharge. 



Sec-feet. 
0.6 
1.5 
3.0 
5.1 
6.2' 
1.1 
.5 
1.5. 

19 
5.8 
1.0 
4.0 
8.7 
5.5 

19 

20 
.13 

40 
9.0 
4.8 
3.0 



DITCHES. 



August 29.... 
September 8.. 

August 19 

September 11 
August 19 

Do 

Do 

August 22 

September 6. , 

July 31 

August 8 



Arizona Creek ditch 

do 

Blocker & Sayle ditch 

do 

Dolan & McFadden ditch. 

Macklin branch 

McMonagle ditch 

Okdurok ditch 

do 

Windy Creek ditch 

do.... 



1.8 
1.8 
3.0 
4.1 
2.5 
4.0 
3.0 
3.0 
2.3 
1.8 
1.0 



TOTAL WATER SUPPLY IN 1907. 



The amount of water that would have been available in 1907 for 
the use of the principal ditches of the Kougarok drainage basin, 



KOUGAROK RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



91 



built and proposed, is summarized by weekly periods in the accom-' 
panying table. The following points should be noted: 

The flow available "for Dahl Creek at elevation 300 to 350 feet" is 
the quantity that could have been diverted by proposed low-line 
ditches, one taking water from Kougarok River near Dreamy Gulch 
and from Henry Creek near the mouth, the other from North Fork 
above Eureka Creek. These ditches could be combined into one 
below the mouth of North Fork. The water in the North Star and 
Henry Creek ditches could be carried past the intakes and used below 
them, so that the flow available for the low-line ditch as given in the 
table would be reduced by the amount so diverted. Practically none 
of the discharge of Coarse Gold Creek would be available for this 
ditch, as it would be used in the high-level ditch. 

The flow available for "upper Kougarok at elevation 600 to 700 
feet" is the sum of the discharges of the five principal forks of the 
river at the ditch intakes. At least 75 per cent of the discharge of 
Taylor Creek is available for the North Star ditch and the remainder 
for the Cascade ditch. The values for Henry and Coarse Gold creeks 
and North Fork were estimated with the aid of hydrographs and are 
only approximate. 

Several other streams would furnish some water at high and low 
level, notably Homestake and Rock creeks. At low water this would 
be less than 1 second-foot for any single stream and may be disre- 
garded; at high water it would not be needed. 

Mean weekly water supply, in second-feet, of Kougarok River drainage basin, 1907. 



Date. 



July 15-21 

July 22-28 

July 29-August 4 

August 5-11 

August 12-18 

August 19-25 

August 26-September 1 

September 2-8 

September 9-15 

September 16-20. 

Mean 

Maximum , 

Minimum.. 



For Dahl Creek at ele- 
vation 300 to 350 feet. 



Koug- 
arok 
River. 



33 

21 
26 
328 
262 
331 
584 
228 



196 
584 
21 



North 
Fork. 



22 
22 
12 
10 
13 
73 
83 
76 
117 
45 



47 
117 
10 



Total. 



79 

110 

45 

31 

39 

401 

345 

407 

701 

273 



243 
701 
31 



For upper Kougarok at elevation 600 to 700 feet. 



Koug- 
arok 
River. 



14 

13 
6.7 
5.4 
4.5 

60 

33 

57 
133 

46 



37.3 
133 
4.5 



Taylor 
Creek. 



16 
53 
7.3 
5.0 
9.0 
117 
117 
100 
181 
68 



67.3 
181 
5.0 



Henry 
Creek. 



19 

14 
7.3 
6.3 
5.4 

28 

21 

33 

94 

33 



26.1 
94 
5.4 



Coarse 
Gold 
Creek. 



12 
9.6 
3.8 
3.3 
3.9 

29 

26 

27 
100 

39 



25.4 
100 
3.3 



North 
Fork. 



5.2 
3.0 
1.2 
1.0 
1.0 

30 

27 

21 

44 

17 



15,0 
44 
1.0 



Total. 



66 
93 
26 
21 
24 
264 
224 
238 
552 
203 



171 
552 
21 



NOXAPAGA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



Noxapaga River is the largest tributary' of the Kuzitrin, and 
enters that stream from the north about 1 5 miles above the mouth 
of the Kougarok. The northwestern portion of its basin resembles 
that of Kougarok River, which it adjoins. An extensive lava flow 



92 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



covers the eastern portion, and the southern or lower end lies in the 
lowland area known as the Kuzitrin Flats. 

Above the mouth of Goose Creek the river has been crossed by a 
recent lava flow, forming rapids in which there is a descent of 96 feet 
in 2.3 miles. Above the rapids the river has hardly any fall for 
several miles. 

During 1907 a ditch was built by the McKay Hydraulic Mining 
Company from Turner Creek, a tributary to the Noxapaga from the 
northwest, to benches on the river above Goose Creek. It has a 
total length of 16 miles, and diverts water from Turner, Boulder, 
Miller, Winona, and several smaller creeks. 

Measurements were made in this drainage basin at extreme low 
water and in no wise represent the average flow. The seasonal varia- 
tion of the smaller streams was probably as great as in the Kougarok 
River basin, and the high-water discharge of the Noxapaga can prob- 
ably be safely estimated as the same per square mile as that of the 
Kougarok. 

Discharge measurements in Noxapaga River drainage basin, 1907. 



Date. 


Stream and locality. 


Drainage 
area 


Discharge. 


August 15 

Do 


Turner Creek at McKay intake 


Sq. miles. 
13 


Sec. -feet. 
0.7 


Boulder Creek at claim 5 


.8 


August 16. . ... 


Noxapaga River above Goose Creek 


340 


G2 









SERPENTINE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Serpentine River drains a large area lying north of the Kougarok. 
Measurements were made of only a few streams in the headwaters. 

SCHLITZ AND REINDEER CREEKS. 

These creeks rise on the slope of Midnight Mountain, and flow 
northwestward into Serpentine River. A ditch has been started by 
the Kugarok Mining and Ditch Company which will be about 8 miles 
long and will divert the flow of these creeks over a low divide into 
Macklin Creek, where it will be picked up by a branch of the Home- 
stake ditch. Measurements were made near the proposed diver- 
sions, as follows: Schlitz Creek, August 11, 0.7 second-feet; Septem- 
ber 4, 13 second-feet. Reindeer Creek, August 11, 1.9 second-feet; 
September 3, 13 second-feet. 

BRYAN AND DICK CREEKS. 



Bryan Creek rises to the east of Kougarok Mountain and flows 
northeastward into Serpentine River. Dick Creek is its principal 
tributary and has shown the best values of all the streams in this 



SERPENTINE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



93 



drainage basin. A ditch built by the Pittsburg-Dick Creek Min- 
ing Company in 1906 and 1907 diverts the water of Bryan Creek 
and extends along the left or north bank of the creek for 6i miles to 
the mouth of Dick Creek, where a head of about 170 feet is available. 
The following measurements were made of Bryan Creek near the 
intake: July 19, 4.2 second-feet; July 27, 6.0 second-feet; July 28, 
6.5 second-feet; September 2, 15.5 second-feet. 

QUARTZ AND BISMARCK CREEKS. 

Quartz Creek is the name applied to the headwaters of South 
Fork of Serpentine River. It rises west of Kougarok Mountain and 
flows in a northerly direction. Bismarck Creek is a small tributary 
of Quartz Creek. In 1907 the Pittsburg-Dick Creek Mining Com- 
pany began a ditch which will take water from these creeks and 
carry it over the divide to a small tributary of Bryan Creek, where 
it will be picked up by the Bryan Creek ditch. The Quartz Creek 
ditch is about 350 feet higher than the Bryan Creek ditch and is 
about 8 miles long. Plans are made to extend it to upper Dick 
Creek, giving it a total length of 22 miles. Measurements were 
made about 200 feet lower than the intakes, and not over 75 per cent 
of the discharge at these points would be available for the ditch. 

The gage on Quartz Creek was read during the low water of August 
by S. G. Revelas. 

The following measurements were made of Bismarck Creek: July 
19, 1.7 second-feet; July 28, 2.0 second feet. 

Gage heights and discharges of Quartz Creek, 1907. 



Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


Date. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


MEASUREMENTS. 

July 19 


Feet. 


Sec.-jeet. 
8.2 
9.0 
25,0 

9.6 
9.0 


GAGE READINGS — CC-nt'd. 


Feet. 
0.60 
.61 
.62 
.60 
.62 
,62 
.64 
.64 


Sec-feet. 
9.0 


July 28 


0.60 

.80 

.61 
.60 




9.6 


September 2. 




10.2 






9.0 


GAGE READINGS. 




10.2 


August 1 


August 15 „. 


10.2 
11.4 


August 3 


August 19 


11.4 









AMERICAN RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 

American River, the north fork of the Agiapuk, drains a large area 
west of the Kougarok basin. Measurements were made only on 
Budd Creek, the tributary on which the most extensive development 
work has been done. 

Budd Creek rises northwest of Kougarok Mountain and flows 
southeastward to the mouth of Eldorado Creek, thence southwest- 
ward to American River above the forks. The waters of Budd and 



94 WATER SUPPLY IK ALASKA, 1906-3907. 

Eldorado creeks sink into the limestone which forms their beds, and 
after flowing from 2 to 4 miles underground appear as springs. 
Windy Creek is a large tributary from the south, on which some 
mining has been done. 

In 1907 a ditch was built on the north bank of Budd Creek by the 
Ottumwa Gold Mining Company. It takes its water just below the 
spring and extends to a point below the mouth of Windy Creek, a 
distance of 8 miles. A head of about 160 feet is obtained. A sec- 
ond ditch was built by the same company on Million and Ohio creeks, 
tributaries of Windy Creek. 

The following measurements were made August 31, when the water 
was at about as low a stage as it reached during the season, the rains 
beginning later here than in the Kougarok basin: Budd Creek Spring, 
drainage area 58 square miles; discharge, 25 second-feet. Budd 
Creek below Windy Creek, drainage area, 108 square miles; discharge, 
39 second-feet. 

HYDRAULIC DEVELOPMENT. 

The first discovery of gold on any tributary of Kougarok River 
was made on Harris Creek in 1900. The river and creek claims were 
nearly all staked during the following summer, and values were 
found at many points. The district has continued as a producer 
since that time, but the total output of precious metal has been 
small compared with that of other districts in Seward Peninsula. In 
the lower part of the Kougarok region Dahl Creek has been the largest 
producer. Work on this stream is greatly handicapped by the 
scarcity of water. Dahl Creek has a small area and lies in a region 
of small run-off, so that it is only during the melting of the snow in 
the spring and for a few days after a heavy rain that enough water 
for sluicing can be obtained from the creek. 

During 1903 and 1904 the first ditch in the region was built by 
the T. T. Lane Company. It extends from Coffee to Dahl Creek, 
diverting Carrie and Independence creeks along its course. In 1904 
capital began to turn its attention to the upper Kougarok. Three 
large ditches were begun late that year or early in 1905 — the Home- 
stake, North Star, and Henry Creek ditches. In 1906, the Cascade, 
Irving, and North Fork ditches were built, and work was continued 
on the other three. In 1907 only one ditch, that on Coarse Gold 
Creek, was built in the Kougarok basin. Several developments 
were carried out on streams in adjacent drainage areas, including 
the McKay ditch from Turner Creek to Noxapaga River, the Bryan 
and Quartz creek ditches, and the Ottumwa ditch on Budd Creek. 
Most of these ditches have been described in the foregoing pages. 
The following tables summarize their principal features. The capac- 
ities are approximate in most cases. 



RELATIVE RUN-OFF OF DIFFERENT AREAS, SEWARD PENINSULA. 95 

Ditches in Kougarok region, Seward Peninsula. 



Name. 


Diverts from— 


Extends to— 


o a; 

a> as 

P 


03 

*3 


6% 

m 


03 
ft® 

PR 


>> 
'o 

Oh 

o 


03 . 

«> a 

03 +2 


Kugarok Mining and 
Ditch Co.: 
Homestake 

Macklin Branch. .. 


Kougarok River 

Macklin Creek.. 
Reindeer and 
Schlitz creeks. 
Kougarok River 

Taylor Creek. .. 
do 

[Henry Creek 

| Lincoln Creek. . . 

Coffee Creek 

Arizona Creek.. 

Coarse Gold 

Creek. 
North Fork 


Homestake 
Creek. 

Main ditch 

Macklin divide.. 

Columbia Creek. 

Arctic Creek 

Claim 3 


1907 

1907 
(a) 

1907 

/1907 

\1907 

1907 

(a) 

(<*) 

1904 
1905 

1907 

(a) 

1906 
1907 

1907 

(a) 

1907 
1907 


Miles. 

7.5 

1.2 

8 

4.4 

67 
c8 
G.25 

10.25 
3.25 

12.25 

2 

5 

6 

4 
1G 

6.5 
8 

8 


Feet. 
8 

4 
5 

6 

8 
10 
5.5 

6 


Feet. 
3.17-4.22 

4.22 
4.22 

4.22 

3.70 
4.22 
4.22 

3.17 


Sec.-ft. 
25 

5 
10 

15 

40 
40 
12 

15 


Feet. 
160 


Irving Mining Co 

Taylor Creek Ditch 
Co.: 
North Star 

Cascade Mining and 

Ditch Co. 
T. T. Lane Co.: 

Henry Creek 


160 

""266 
110 


Homestake 
Creek. 

Henry Creek in- 
take. 

Dahl Creek 

Benches on river 

Two-bit Gulch.. 


210 


Coffee Creek 


3-5 
4 

8 

7 " 

4 
4-5 

6 

8 

9 

4 


3.17 
3.17 

4.22 

3.17 

4.22 
4.22 

4.22 
4.22 

3.70 

4.22 






C. F. Merritt and 

others. 
Galvin & Buell 


2 

25 

20 

8 
8-10 

15 
20 

30 

8 


185 
300 


opment Co. 

Anderson Bros 

McKaj Hydraulic Min- 
ing Co. 

Pittsburg-Dick Creek 
Mining Co. 

Ottumwa Gold Min- 
ing Co. 


Windy Creek... 
Turner Creek... 

j Bryan Creek 

\Quartz Creek... 

[Budd Creek 

[Million Creek. . . 


Anderson Gulch 
Goose Creek 

Dick Creek 

Bryan Creek di- 
vide. 

Below Windy 
Creek. 

Windy Creek 


150 

170 
«350 

160 



o Under construction. 

b Intake to siphon. 

c Siphon to Arctic Creek. 



d Proposed. 

e Above Bryan Creek ditch. 



RELATIVE RUN-OFF OF DIFFERENT AREAS. 

In order to afford a comparison of the run-off conditions in different 
areas, especially between those north and south of the Kigluaik 
Mountains, tables have been prepared showing the daily minima 
and monthly means for 1906 and 1907 in second-feet per square 
mile for the drainage areas investigated. The streams have been 
grouped into three classes — (1) those running in the foothills, having 
southern exposures and but few gulches in which snow is retained 
into the summer months; (2) streams rising in the mountains, having 
deep valleys and cirques with northern exposures, where snow is 
stored and held during the whole summer, and having a much 
heavier rainfall than streams at lower elevations; (3) streams of the 
Kougarok region. A study of the following tables shows several 
interesting points. In general, the nearer the stream lies to the 
central mountain mass of the Kigluaik Range, the greater is its run- 
off. The most notable exception to this rule is Hobson Creek. The 
flow of this stream comes from limestone springs, which are believed 
to draw some of their water from areas lying outside the surface 



96 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-190*7. 



drainage basin of the creek. North Star Creek, Fox Creek, and 
Nome River have a smaller minimum than adjoining streams whose 
basins have a similar character and elevation. This is probably due 
to their more direct southern exposure. 

There is a striking difference, both in minimum and mean, between 
streams south of the mountains and those in the Kougarok region. 
This is due mostly to the small rainfall north of the mountains. 
Budd Creek draws all of its flow at low water from springs and so has 
a much larger minimum than other streams in the vicinity. 

These tables may be used to estimate the run-off from other 
streams in Seward Peninsula, but such estimates must be made with 
extreme caution on account of the great difference in run-off in areas 
apparently similar. 

The streams are not given in the order in which the descriptions 
appear in the text, but are arranged in general from east to west and 
from higher elevations to lower. 



Minimum daily flow of streams in Seward Peninsula, 1906-7. 
STREAMS RISING IN FOOTHILLS. 





Eleva- 
tion. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


1906. 1907. 


Stream. 


Date. 


Mini- 
mum 
flow. 


Mini- 
mum 

run-off 
per 

square 
mile. 


Date. 


Mini- 
mum 
flow. 


Mini- 
mum 

run-off 
per 

square 
mile. 


Iron Creek below 
mouth of Canyon 
Creek. 


Feet. 
450 

400 

800 
800 
785 
590 
500 
500 
700 

400 
40 
120 


Sq. 

miles. 

50 

51 

1.4 
.85 
2.1 
4.3 
2.7 
2.6 
2.1 

36 
69 
19 


Aug. 14 

Aug. 14 .... . 

Sept. 10 

Aug. 11 

June 28 

Aug. 19 

Aug. 18 

July4 

Aug. 19 

Aug. 19 


Sec.-ft. 
17.1 

44 

a 4. 2 

.8 

6.96 

3.3 

2.9 

10.5 
2.2 

11.4 


Sec.-ft. 
0.34 

.86 

3 
.94 
.46 
.77 

1.1 
c-4 

1.05 

.32 


Aug. 11-14.. 


Sec.-ft. 
33 


Sec.-ft. 
0.66 


low mouth of Ve- 
netia Creek. 
Jett Creek . 


Sept. 23 


2.9 


1.3 


Copper Creek 

Nugget Creek 

David Creek 




Aug. 10-11.. 
Sept. 30 


2.8 
8.3 


1.3 

1.9 


Dorothy Creek 

Hobson Creek 

Slate Creek (tribu- 
tary to Stewart 
River). 




Aug. 19 


14.3 


5.5 








Snake River 


Aug. 12 

Aug. 15 


77 
33 


1.1 


Penny River 


Aug. 1 


a 36 


1.9 


1.7 



« Lowest measurements obtained; the flow was less on certain dates. 

b The lowest flow later in 1906 was 3 second-feet, or 1.4 second-feet per square mile, on August 11. 
cThe flow of Hobson Creek is from large limestone springs whose catchment area may not coincide 
with the surface watershed. 



EBLATIVE RUN-OFF OF DIFFERENT AREAS, SEWARD PENINSULA 97 

Minimum daily flow of streams in Seward Peninsula, 1906-7 — Continued. 
STREAMS RISING IN KIGLUAIK MOUNTAINS. 





Eleva- 
tion. 


Drain- 
age 
area. 


1906. 


1907. 


Stream. 


Date. » 


Mini- 
mum 
flow. 


Mini- 
mum 

run-off 
per 

square 
mile. 


Date. 


Mini- 
mum 
flow. 


Mini- 
mum 

run-off 
per 

square 
mile. 


North Fork Grand 


Feet. 
750 

850 

925 
720 
690 

455 

442 

550 
550 
575 
800 
770 
900 
650 


A, 

5.4 

5.4 

1.8 
2.5 
14.6 

39 

24.4 

81 

11 
11 
15 

4.4 
& 6. 2 

2.3 
12 


Julyl 

Sept. 15-17.. 

Sept. 15-17.. 
Sept. 16-17.. 
Sept. 16-17.. 

Sept. 16-17.. 

Sept. 16-17.. 

/Aug. 19 and 
\ Sept. 17. 

Sept. 16-17.. 

Aug. 16 

Aug. 5 

Aug. 3...... 

Aug. 3 

Aug. 10 

Aug. 3 


Sec. ft. 
23 

19 

3.1 
5 
47 

90 

43 

} 175 

39 

17.3 

20 

9.1 
20 

2.9 
32 


8tf.fi. 

4.3 

3.5 

1.7 

2 

3.1 

• 2.3 

1.76 

2.16 

3.5 

1.6 

1.3 

2.1 

3.2 

1.26 

2.7 




Sec. ft. 


Sec. ft. 


Central River near 

ditch intake. 
West Fork Grand 

Central River at 

ditch intake. 
Crater Lake outlet . . 

Thompson Creek 

Grand Central River 

below forks. 
Grand Central River 


July 29 

Sept. 22-23. . 
Sept. 22-23. . 
Aug. 15 


28 

3.5 

5 

72 


5.2 

1.9 

2 

4.9 


belowNuggetCreek. 
Grand Central River 








between station 
below forks and 
station at Nugget 
Creek. 

Kruzgamepa River. . 

Crater Creek 


Oct. 5 


178 


2.2 


Fox Creek 










Aug. 15 


16 


1.1 


Buffalo Creek. 




Sinuk River 


Aug. 15 

Aug. 7 

Aug. 15 


a 22 
04 
a 32 


2.7 


North Star Creek 

Windy Creek 


1.7 
2.7 



a Minimum in mid season. & 8.2 after August 1, 1907. 

STREAMS IN THE KOUGAROK REGION. 



Kougarok River at 

Homestake intake. 

Kougarok River 




44 
250 

74 

50 

66 

340 
13 

58 








Aug. 13 

Aug. 9-12... 

Aug. 14 

Aug. 13 

Aug. 15 

Aug. 16 

Aug. 15 

Aug. 21 


3.2 
16 

3.9 

6.8 

9.6 

62 

.7 
25 


0.07 








.06 


above Coarse Gold 
Creek. 
Taylor Creek at Cas*- 








.05 


cade intake. 
Henry Creek at 








.14 


mouth. 
North Fork above 








.15 


Eureka Creek. 








.18 


Turner Creek 










.05 


Budd Creek 










.43 















35283— irr 218—08- 



98 WATEB SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Mean run-off, in second-feet per square mile, at gaging stations, 1906. 



Station. 



North Fork of Grand Central River: 

Near ditch intake 

At pipe intake 

West Fork of Grand Central River: 

At ditch intake 

At pipe intake 

Crater Lake outlet 

Thompson Creek 

Grand Central River below forks 

Grand Central River below Nugget 

Creek 

Kruzgamepa River at outlet of Salmon 

Lake 

Between Grand Central River below the 

forks and Kruzgamepa River stations . 

Nome River at Miocene intake 



Drain- 



Sq. mi. 

5.4 
2.3 

5.4 
2.8 
1.8 
2.5 
14.6 

39 

81 

66 
15 



July 1-31. 



7.05 



3.43 



July 1-4 
and 11-31. 



a 7. 53 



10.3 
9.64 

10.8 
8.20 
8.J6 



Aug. 1-31. 


6.80 
11.9 


6.02 

4.96 
6.56 
6.64 
5.84 


a 4. 42 


3.20 


2.62 
3.36 



Sept. 1-30. 



5.63 



4.29 



a Approximate. 
Mean run-off, in second-feet per square mile, at gaging stations, 1907. 

STREAMS RISING IN FOOTHILLS. 



Station. 


Drainage 
area. 


July 1-31. 


July 8-31. 


August. 


Sept. 1-30. 


Sept. 1-23. 


Jett and Copper creeks 

Nugget Creek 


Sq. miles. 
2.25 
2.1 
4.3 
2.6 

69 

19 


2. 71 
7.49 

2^56 
4.14 




3.16 
2.95 
3.30 
6.58 
1.56 
3.11 


4.27 
5.24 
4.81 
7.35 






























3.74 










STRE 


AMS RISIl 


SQ IN KIGLUAIK M 


DUNTAINS 






North Fork Grand Central 
River: 
At the forks 


6.9 
2.3 

7.7 
5.4 
2.8 
1.8 
2.5 

81 
15 

a 6. 2 
2.3 
12 




7.06 


8.42 
18.9 

10.5 
9.30 
6.29 
14.4 
10.8 

4.14 
2.19 
5.49 
3.61 
4.93 




9.38 


At pipe intake 




16.9 




20.2 


West Fork Grand Central 
River: 
At the forks 




11.0 
11.1 
9.43 
13.6 
16.9 




13.0 


At ditch intake 






9.38 








7.32 








11.7 








9.12 


Kruzgamepa River at outlet 


6.77 
4.81 
8.44 
6.43 
7.62 


5.89 
3.89 















6.55 






3.87 








5.68 











a 8.2 after August 1. 
STREAMS IN THE KOUGAROK REGION. 



Station. 


Drainage 
area. 


July 15-31. 


August. 


.Sept. 1-20. 


Kougarok River: 


Sq. miles. 

44 

250 

74 


0.28 
.27 
.40 


0.52 
.56 
.73 


1.80 




1.55 


Taylor Creek at Cascade intake 


1.61 







THE FAIRHAVEN PRECINCT. 

By Fred F. Henshaw. 
INTRODUCTION. 

The Fairhaven precinct, comprising a large area in northeastern 
Seward Peninsula, has been a producer of placer gold since 1901 
and promises to be more important in the future. No stream-gaging 
work has been done in this district, and it has not been visited by 
any member of the Geological Survey since 1903. The following 
notes concerning the water supply and the hydraulic ^developments 
that have been carried on during the last two seasons have been 
compiled from reliable sources. 

FAIRHAVEN DITCH. 

The Fairhaven ditch was built during 1906 by the Fairhaven 
Water Company . It takes its water supply from Imuruk Lake, 
the source of Kugruk River. A dam about 500 feet long has been 
constructed across the outlet of the lake to conserve the run-off. 

The upper section of the ditch is 17 miles long, the first 8 miles of 
which is through a lava formation. The water is dropped into upper 
Pinnell River, and flows down this stream for about 4 miles. The 
lower section takes the water from Pinnell River on its right bank 
and extends for 23 miles to Arizona Creek, where a head of 500 feet 
is obtained. The ditch is 11 feet wide on the bottom and has a 
grade of 5 feet to the mile. 

The dam across Imuruk Lake was closed August 16, 1906, and 
remained so until August, 1907, no water being carried in the ditch 
in the meantime. The water surface of the lake rose 26 inches during 
this period. The area of the lake is 30 square miles and that of the 
drainage basin 99 square miles. The run-off was therefore 41,600 
acre-feet, equivalent to 7.9 inches in depth over the entire drainage 
area. This would furnish 58 second-feet for one year, 210 second- 
feet for one hundred days, or 263 second-feet for eighty days. The 
snowfall during the winter of 1906-7 was heavier than usual, so that 
the water supply for other years may be less than this. 

The above information was furnished by W. R. Hoffman, who had 
charge of the construction of the Fairhaven ditch. 

99 



100 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

CANDLE DITCH. 

The Candle ditch was built during 1907 by the Candle- Alaska 
Hydraulic Gold Mining Company to furnish water for mining on 
Candle Creek. It has a total length of 33.6 miles, a bottom width 
of 9 feet, and a grade of 3.69 feet per mile. The estimated capacity 
is 35 second-feet. It takes its supply from the western tributaries 
of Kiwalik River. The present intake of the ditch is on Glacier 
Creek. The water is carried across Dome Creek in a siphon 2,250 
feet long, composed of 28-inch pipe; across Bonanza Creek in 900 
feet of 32-inch pipe; and across Eldorado Creek in a siphon 12,100 
feet long, composed, of equal lengths of 35£, 37J, and 39| inch pipe. 
Eldorado Creek will be tapped with a lateral ditch about 6 miles 
long. An extension 8.1 miles long of 6-foot ditch will be built to 
Gold Run. It will also be possible to divert the flow from the head- 
waters of First Chance Creek, a tributary of Koyuk River, over a 
low divide into Gold Run. 

The fall obtained is 250 feet at the mouth of Candle Creek and 132 
feet at the mouth of Patterson Creek. The surveyed line crosses 
Candle Creek about 1 mile above the mouth of Willow Creek. Candle 
Creek was nearly dry during 1907, the flow some of the time being less 
than half a second-foot. 

The above information was furnished by W. L. Leland. 

BEAR CREEK DITCH. 

A ditch was built in 1907 on Bear Creek, a tributary of the West 
Fork of Buckland River. It has its intake below the mouth of May 
Creek, and extends along the right bank to Split Creek, diverting 
Eagle, Polar, and other small creeks. The ditch has a length of 
about 6 miles, a bottom width of 6 feet, and a grade of 4 feet to the 
mile. The head obtained at the lower end is about 200 feet. 



THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 

By C. C. Covert. 

DESCRIPTION OF AREA. 

The area known as the Fairbanks district extends about 60 miles 
to the north of Fairbanks and is from 40 to 50 miles in width. The 
greater part of the region lies in the lower Tanana basin, but a por- 
tion to the northwest is directly tributary to the Yukon. Generally 
speaking, it embraces three divisions — a low, broad alluvial plain, a 
moderately high plateau, and a mountain mass. / 

The low, broad plain forms the bottom lands of the lower Tanana 
Valley, which in this section is divided into several parts by the 
Tanana and its slough-like channels. The main slough starts near 
the mouth of Salcha River, about 30 miles above Fairbanks, where 
it diverts a portion of the Tanana waters. Its course is along the 
foothills of the plateau to the north, and it receives Chena River 
about 7 miles above Fairbanks. The plain is swampy in character 
and is well covered with timber along the banks of the streams. In 
the vicinity of Fairbanks it has a general elevation of about 500 feet 
above sea level. 

The plateau is drained by streams tributary to Tanana River, 
which flow through rather broad,, unsymmetrical valleys, most of 
which extend in a northeast-southwest direction. Their bottom lands 
range in elevation from 500 to over 2,000 feet above sea level, and 
the dividing ridges are in general 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the stream 
beds. That portion of the plateau which comes under discussion in 
this report is drained principally by Little Chena and Chatanika 
rivers. The upper region of these drainage basins is crosscut by a 
zigzag range, which separates the Yukon from the Tanana drainage. 

The mountain mass to the north of this plateau forms what might 
be termed the apex of the divide between the Tanana and the Yukon 
drainage basins. It rises to an altitude of 4,000 to 5,000 feet above 
sea level and its corrugated slopes are drained principally by tribu- 
taries to Yukon River. 

All drainage areas tributary to the Tanana are similar in character. 
The streams have little slope except near their source. Wide, grav- 
elly beds of a shifting nature and tortuous courses keeping to one 

101 



102 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

side of the valley are marked characteristics. The channels usually 
have rather steep banks that form approaches to broad, level bottom 
lands which extend from 1,000 to 4,000 feet or more before they 
meet the abrupt slopes of the dividing ridges. The drainage basins 
are from 4 to 15 miles wide and are well cut up by small tributary 
streams flowing through deep and narrow ravines. 

A large portion of the area is covered with a thick turf known as 
tundra, which is wet, spongy, and mossy and ranges in thickness from 
6 inches to 2 feet. In some localities this is meadow like, producing 
a rank growth of grass and a variety of beautiful wild flowers. Under- 
neath this tundra ground ice is found in many places, particularly 
on the northern slopes, where the soil is scanty and there is little 
timber or other vegetation. The soil of the southern slopes is, for 
the most part, gravelly clay, underlain by a mica schist which affords 
suitable ground for ditch construction. When stripped of its mossy 
covering, the sun rapidly thaws it so that the plow and scraper can 
be used to advantage. 

Above an altitude of 2,000 to* 2,200 feet practically the only vege- 
tation is a scrubby, bushy growth which attains a height of 2 to 4 
feet. In general the country below this altitude is timbered by 
spruce and birch, with scattered patches of tamarack and willow 
along the banks of the smaller streams. The timber increases in 
density and size as the river bottoms are approached. There the 
prevailing growth is spruce, much of which attains diameters of 18 
to 24 inches. 

The Fairbanks mining district lies between Little Chena and 
Chatanika rivers. It embraces an area of some 500 square miles 
and extends about 30 miles to the north of Fairbanks, which is sit- 
uated on Chena Slough nearly 1 2 miles above its confluence with the 
Tanana. The producing creeks in general rise in a high rocky ridge, 
of which Pedro Dome, with an elevation of about 2,500 feet, is the 
center. At least half of the mines are located at an elevation of over 
800 feet, and 25 per cent over 1,000 feet, above sea level. 

The field work during 1907 in the Fairbanks district was carried on 
from June 20 to September 15. Owing to the lack of adequate 
funds the work was largely that of reconnaissance. However, the 
keeping of systematic records on some of the more important streams 
was made possible through the hearty cooperation of people who were 
interested. 

After making a careful study of the general topographic conditions 
of the mining district and surrounding country, it was decided to 
establish a few regular stations, at the most convenient points in the 
larger drainage areas, and study the daily run-off, during the open 



FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 103 

season from records thus obtained." This plan afforded greater 
opportunity for procuring comparative data than that of covering a 
larger territory in a less definite way. In this country without stor- 
age, daily records are an important factor, and such records could 
not have been obtained over an extended area. Outside of the pro- 
ducing creeks the country is practically a wilderness, and it is almost 
impossible to get observations, other than those made on the occa- 
sional visits of the engineer. No daily or even weekly records in 
such areas could have been assured and the results obtained from 
the occasional measurements would have furnished no comprehen- 
sive idea as to the actual daily run-off of the streams throughout the 
open season. 

CONDITIONS AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY. 

Stream flow in the Fairbanks district is affected by melting of 
accumulated snow and ice, summer rains, and melting of ground ice. 
In this district the break-up begins about the middle of April and the 
rise in the streams commences about the middle of May and con- 
tinues intermittently until May 30, or thereabouts, when the maxi- 
mum discharge occurs. The table on page 109 shows the daily gage 
height of Chena Slough at Fairbanks during the open season of 1907. 
A. D. Gassaway, of the Chatanika Ditch Company, estimated the 
maximum flow of Chatanika River near the mouth of Faith Creek at 
about 1,250 second-feet and stated that this discharge occurred about 
May 30. After that date the flow gradually decreased until the 
minimum stage was reached, about July 10. 

The precipitation records kept at Fairbanks since 1905 (see table 
p. 143) show that snowfall in this section amounts to about 40 inches. 
On account of the frozen ground and the steady cold weather, very 
little of this snow runs off before the spring break-up. What run-off 
there is during the winter season, especially in the upper basins, is 
accumulated in the glacial ice formed in the stream beds. This ice 
does not entirely disappear before the middle or last of July. 

There are few data regarding rainfall in this section. Records have 
been kept at Fairbanks since 1905 and in connection with the in- 
vestigations of stream flow the Geological Survey established four 
stations in 1907. The daily and monthly rainfall at these points is 
given in the tables on pages 140 to 141. A comparison of the 1907 
rainfall records throughout Alaska, especially those of the interior, 
with records previously obtained will show that the season was a 
comparatively normal one. 



"For explanation of data and methods of work see p. 9. 



104 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

The melting of frozen ground affords a slight additional supply of 
water to the streams. The frozen muck and ground ice, which carry 
a large percentage of water, are well protected by a thick coat of moss, 
through which it is difficult for the heat of the summer sun to pene- 
trate. As the season advances the imprisoned moisture is liberated 
through the combined influence of abundant sunshine and frequent 
warm rains. This gradual thawing of frozen ground is made notice- 
able not only by the increase of the daily flow of the streams, but also 
by the condition of the trail and the increased depth to which one 
sinks when traveling over the tundra. On the northern slope and in 
the deep canyons, which are protected from the rays of the sun, the 
frozen ground never thaws more than a few inches, even during July 
and August, when the sun shines nearly twenty-four hours a day. 

Owing to the shallow depth to which the ground thaws, the pre- 
vailing mossy covering affords the only ground storage for rainfall in 
this country. This covering is filled with seepage from ground thaw 
and consequently any increase in the water supply, through rainfall, 
finds its way to the streams in a very short time over the under- 
ground ice and steep slopes of the drainage basins, causing streams 
to rise and fall very rapidly. (See iig. 2.) Because of this lack of 
ground storage the streams depend largely on rainfall for their sup- 
ply, after the snow and ice have disappeared in the spring break-up. 
May, June, and July are invariably months of slight rainfall in the 
interior (see p. 140) and the streams soon reach a very low stage. Yet 
this is the most important period for the miner. The long hours of 
daylight and the warm weather afford favorable opportunities for 
mining and sluicing, but the abundant supply of water needed for 
this purpose is often lacking. 



FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



105 



Second-feet 



% 












































£ 


Sf-//T)c 


<ted/ 


nax/r 


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?SO 






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Ram fall ( inches and hundredths J 



106 



WATEE SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907, 
GAGING STATIONS. 



The following list gives the points in the Fairbanks district at 
which gages were established or discharge measurements made in 
1907. The numbers refer to PI. IX: 



Gaging stations in Fairbanks district. 



1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 
5. 

6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 

11. 

12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 

17. 

18. 
19. 

20. 

21. 
22. 



Little Chena River about 2 miles 

above Elliott Creek. 
Elliott Creek above mouth of Sorrels 

Creek. 
Sorrels Creek above mouth. 
Fish Creek above Fairbanks Creek. 
Bear Creek near mouth of Tecumseh 

Creek. 
Fairbanks Creek. 
Miller Creek near mouth. 
Miller Creek below Heim Creek. 
Miller Creek above Heim Creek. 
Charity Creek 1 mile above mouth of 

Hope Creek. 
Hope Creek near mouth of Zephyr 

Creek. 
Faith Creek at weir near mouth. 
McManus Creek above Montana Creek. 
McManus Creek below Montana Creek. 
McManus Creek 1 mile below Idaho. 
McManus Creek 500 feet above mouth 

of Smith Creek. 
McManus Creek below mouth of Smith 

Creek. 
McManus Creek at mouth. 
Smith Creek below mouth of Pool 

Creek. 
Smith Creek above mouth of Pool 

Creek. 
Pool Creek above mouth. 
McManus Creek at weir near mouth. 



23. Chatanika River below Faith and Mc- 

Manus creeks. 

24. Boston Creek, elevation 800 feet. 

25. McKay Creek; elevation 800 feet. 

26. Belle Creek, elevation 800 feet. 

27. Crooked Creek near mouth. 

28. Kokomo Creek near mouth. 

29. Poker Creek near mouth. 

30. Poker Creek near elevation 800 feet. 

31. Little Poker Creek above mouth. 

32. Caribou Creek above mouth of Little 

Poker Creek. 

33. Chatanika River below mouth of 

Poker Creek. 

34. Cleary Creek near Cleary. 

35. Little Eldorado Creek above trail to 

Dome. 

36. Dome Creek near Dome. 

37. Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below. 

38. Fox Creek near elevation 900 feet. 

39. Beaver Creek above mouth of East 

Branch. 

40. East Branch Beaver Creek above 

mouth. 

41. Nome Creek 1 mile above mouth. 

42. Bryan Creek, elevation 1,800 feet. 

43. Trail Creek about 4 miles above 

mouth. 

44. Brigham Creek 1 mile above mouth. 

45. Fossil Creek near mouth. 



LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

The southern slope of the divide between the Chatanika and Chena 
drainage basins, from the headwaters of Smith and Flat creeks to 
Pedro Dome, a distance of about 25 miles, is drained by Little Chena 
River and its tributaries, Elliott and Fish creeks. The drainage basin 
is irregular in shape and has a network of small, ramifying streams 
with steep, precipitous slopes in their upper drainage. The upper 
portion of the main stream is also steep, having a fall of 100 to 150 




CO 




MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF GAGING STATIONS IN FAIRBANKS REGION. 



LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 107 

feet to the mile. This slope decreases rather abruptly to about 18 
feet to the mile in the vicinity of Elliott and Fish creeks. 

The general course of the stream above the confluence of Fish Creek 
is through a rather broad, unsymmetrical valley. Below Fish Creek 
the river takes the center of a deep, narrow channel for about 8 miles 
to the point where Anaconda Creek, an important tributary from the 
left, enters. Below this point the valley gradually widens until the 
stream enters the lowlands tributary to Chena River, into which it 
empties 6 or 8 miles above the confluence of Chena Slough. Through 
this slough it discharges its waters into the Tanana near the town of 
Chena. 

In the low-water period the stream has a channel width of 30 to 75 
feet and flows from side to side of a broad, gravelly bed ranging from 
100 to 300 feet in width. The channel is defined by steep, alluvial 
banks forming the approach to the heavily timbered bottom lands of 
the river valley which prevail above the confluence of Fish Creek. 
In the high-water stages the broad river bed is filled to its banks 
and often overflows them. During this stage the river seeks numer- 
ous smaller channels that surround heavily wooded islands. 

The greater part of the drainage basin is well covered with timber, 
that in the uplands, on the slopes and smaller divides, consisting of 
spruce, birch, and poplar, suitable only for fuel and cabin purposes. 
In the lower valleys and creek bottom lands the prevailing growth 
is spruce, much of which is suitable for milling purposes. 

The area is invariably covered with the conventional moss, but 
here and there outcroppings of limestone, mica schist, and gravel are 
found on the slopes. In the creek valleys the mossy covering is 
usually underlain with frozen muck and glacial ice. Numerous 
swamp areas occur near the river banks, and these, together with 
the heavy growth of timber, make travel very difficult. 

Gaging stations were established on Fish Creek above the mouth 
of Fairbanks Creek, on Elliott Creek above the mouth of Sorrels 
Creek, on Sorrels Creek above its mouth, and on the Little Chena 
about 2 miles above the mouth of Elliott Creek. Much credit is due 
Sherman White, the observer, for his faithful work in making approx- 
imately daily observations at each of these stations. 

A project is under way to collect the waters from the different 
tributaries, at an elevation of about 900 feet, and to convey the 
supply by ditch line to a point in the lower drainage area, on the 
right bank of the Little Chena, where a fall of nearly 200 feet can 
be obtained. A portion of the water so collected is to be used in 
developing electric power for transmission to the producing creeks, 
and the excess water will be carried by ditch line to Smallwood and 
Nugget creeks and used for mining purposes. 



108 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



The following table gives the horsepower (80 per cent efficiency) 
per foot of fall that may be developed at different rates of discharge, 
and shows the number of days on which the discharge and the cor- 
responding horsepower were respectively less than the amounts 
given in the columns for " discharge" and "horsepower." 

Discharge and horsepower table for Little Chena River and tributaries, 1907. 



Discharge. « 


Horsepower 

(80 per cent 

efficiency) 

per foot fall. 


Days of defi- 
cient dis- 
charge, July 
22 to Sept. 10. 


Discharge, a 


Horsepower 

(80 per cent 

efficiency). 

per foot fall. 


Days of defi- 
cient dis- 
charge, July 
22 to Sept. 10. 


Sec.-ft. 

66 : 


6 
8 
10 
12 



7 

15 
23 


Sec.-ft. 
154. 


14 
16 

18 
20 


35 


88 


176 


42 


110 


198 

220 


45 


132 


48 









a This includes the flow of Little Chena, Elliott, Sorrels, and Fish creeks. 



Drainage areas of Little Chena River basin.a 



Stream and location. 



Total 
area. 



Little Chena River above gaging station 

Little Chena River from gaging station to mouth of Elliott Creek 

Elliott Creek above gaging station 

Sorrels Creek above gaging station 

Elliott Creek from gaging station to mouth. 

Total Elliott Creek 

Little Chena River from mouth of Elliott to Fish Creek 

Fish Creek above Bear Creek 

Bear Creek above mouth 

Fish Creek from Bear Creek to gaging station 

Fish Creek above gaging station 

Fairbanks Creek above mouth 

Fish Creek, Fairbanks Creek to Miller Creek 

Miller Creek above mouth 

Fish Creek from Miller Creek to mouth 

Total Fish Creek 

Little Chena from mouth of Fish Creek to Anaconda Creek 

Anaconda Creek above mouth 

Little Chena from Anaconda Creek to mouth 



Sg. miles. 
79.0 
82.6 



121.2 
127.2 



217.4 
248.1 
291.4 
404.6 



a From reconnaissance map Yukon-Tanana region, Fairbanks quadrangle. 



CHENA SLOUGH AT FAIRBANKS. 



Near the mouth of Salcha River a portion of the Tanana waters 
are diverted through a sloughlike channel about 50 miles in length, 
that separates the broad flat lands to the right into two parts. The 
channel receives the drainage of the plateau to the north and about 
midway in its course Chena River enters. Below this point the chan- 
nel is known as Chena Slough. It affords a passageway for the 
Tanana steamers from its mouth near Chena to Fairbanks, 12 miles 
above, except in times of low water, when the cargoes are transferred 
at Chena to the Tanana Mines Railroad. 

A gage fastened to the highway bridge in Fairbanks is read twice 
each day during the open season by employees of the Northern Navi- 
gation Company. 



LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 109 

Daily gage height, in feet, of Chena Slough near Fairbanks, Alaska, 1907. 



Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




5.3 
5.2 
5.1 
4.6 
4.0 
4.8 
5.6 
4.8 
4.4 
4.0 
3.9 
4.1 
4.1 
3.9 
3.8 
3.5 


2.4 
2.6 
2.8 
2.8 
2.6 
2.1 
2.2 
2.3 
2.2 
2.0 
2.1 
2.1 
2.3 
2.6 
2.9 
3.1 


3.2 
3.4 
3.9 
3.8 
3.8 
3.9 
4.0 
4.0 
4.1 
4.1 
4.1 
3.9 
3.6 
3.6 
3.6 
3.5 


1.9 
1.8 
1.6 
1.5 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 
1.4 
1.5 
1.8 
2.0 
2.0 
3.3 
5.3 
4.6 
4.3 


17 




3.6 

3.8 

3.1 

2.6 

2.1 

2.0 

2.8- 

1.5 

1.4 

1.5 

1.2 

1.3 

1.5 

2.0 


3.0 
2.9 
2.7 
2.6 
2.8 
3.1 
3.4 
3.5 
3.6 
3.6 
3.3 
3.1 
3.0 
3.0 
3.0 


3.4 
3.3 
3.1 
• 3.1 
3.1 
3.3 
3.1 
3,0 
2.5 
2.2 
2.1 
2.0 
1.8 
1.8 
1.8 


6.1 


2 




,18 




6.0 


3 




19 




4.8 


4 




20 




4.0 


5 




21 




3.8 


6 




22 




3.9 


7 




23 




4.0 


8 




24 


5.6 
5.8 
5.6 
5.2 
4.6 
4.1 
5.5 
5.9 




g 




25 




10 




26 




11. 




27 




12. 




28 




13. 




29 




14. 




30 




is. ; 


31 




16 











LITTLE CHENA RIVER ABOVE MOUTH OF ELLIOTT CREEK. 

A gaging station was established on Little Chena River about 2 
miles above the mouth of Elliott Creek July 22, 1907. At this point 
the channel is from 30 to 50 feet in width during low and medium 
stages. It has a gravelly bed and is fairly straight for about 100 
feet. A stake graduated to feet and tenths was driven near the left 
side and daily readings were taken. 

measurements of Little Chena River above mouth of Elliott Creek, 1907. 



Date. 



Width. 


Area of 
section. 


Gage 
height. 


Feet. 


Sg.-ft. 


Feet. 


23.5 


26.6 


0.60 


23.5 


26.7 


.565 


40.0 


42.2 


1.10 


33 


37.2 


1.05 


25 


28.0 


.73 



Discharge. 



July 22.... 
July 24.... 
August 4. 
August 5. 
August 20 



Sec.-ft. 
44.2 
39.7 
113 
103 
56.7 



Daily gage height and discharge of Little Chena River above mouth of Elliott Creek, 1907. 
[Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 79 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


• 

Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


4J 

3 
bo 

3 


6 
» 

o3 

■9 

s 


§ 
5 
A 

ba 
o3 
O 


<x> 

of 
o 

s 


ft 

5 
A 


t-t 
o3 

■8 

CD 

s 


S 

© 

bfi 

03 

o 


6 
» 

o3 

1 

s 


I 

of 

o 


o3 

■a 
s 


| 

A 

of 

o 


o3 

■3 

s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

0.7 

1.3 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.0 

1.05 

1.1 

1.2 

1.1 

1.0 

.9 
1.0 

.8 

.9 

.8 


Sec.-ft. 
53 
157 
113 
113 
113 
95 
104 
113 
134 
113 
95 
80 
95 
66 
80 
66 
66 
60 
60 


Feet. 

1.0 
.9 
.9 
.8 
.9 
.95 
.95 

1.0 

"i.'o" 


Sec.-ft. 
95 
80 
80 
66 
80 
88 
88 
95 
95 
95 


20 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
.7 

.7 
.7 
.7 
.7 

"i.'o" 

.9 
.9 

"i.'o" 

1.0 


Sec.-ft. 
53 
53 
53 
53 
53 
73 
95 
80 
80 
88 
95 
95 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 






21... 








3 






22 0.60 

23 


42 
42 
42 
42 
80 
66 
53 
42 
42 
* 42 






4 










5 






24 1 .60 

25 1 .60 

26 90 

27 | .80 

28 .70 

29 .60 

30 .60 

31 m 






6 1 






7 . 








8 










9 










10 










11 










12 














13 



















14 








o49.3 
.625 
.23 




85.4 
l.CS 
1.24 




&86 2 


15 










Run - off per 
square mile.. 

Run-ofi, depth 
in inches 




16 










1.09 


17 












18 












.40 


19 

































a July 22-31. 



b September 1 to 10. 



110 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



ELLIOTT CREEK ABOVE MOUTH OF SORRELS CREEK. 

Elliott Creek takes the drainage from the southern slope of Twin 
Butte Hills, in the Chatanika divide, and flows in a southerly direc- 
tion, discharging its waters and those of Sorrels Creek, its tributary, 
into the Little Chena about 4 miles above the mouth of Fish Creek. 

The drainage area is steep in its upper reaches and well timbered 
in the creek bottom. The stream flows in a narrow channel, rather 
deeply cut, and the banks are lined with willow and small spruce. 

A gaging station was established about half a mile above the 
mouth of Sorrels Creek July 22, 1907, and regular readings were 
taken. 



Discharge measurements of Elliott Creek above mouth of Sorrels Creek, 1907. 



Date. 



July 23.... 
August 5 . 
August 20 



Width. 



Area of 
section. 



Feet. Sq. ft. 

9. 5 6. 4 

12. 9. 6 

10. 1 6. 98 



Gage 
height. 



Feet. 
1.6 
1.85 
1.615 



Discharge. 



Sec.-ft. 

5.1 
13.8 
7.1 



Daily gage height and discharge of Elliott Creek above mouth of Sorrels Creek, 1907. 
[Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 13.8 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


+3 


1 

ft 


% 

I 

1 


1 

03 
1 

ft 


% 
3 

tt) 

of 

O 


03 

1 

ft 


2 
1 

o 


6 

1 

03 


f 

CD 
60 

o3 
O 


SP ■ 

03 

.3 

ft 


4J 

■S 

O) 
CD 

o 


! 

S 


1... 


Feet. Sec.-ft. 


Feet, 
1.7 
2.1 
2.1 


Sec.-ft. 
9.0 
23 
23 

17.2 
12.3 
12.3 
12.3 
12.3 
15.6 
12.3 
12.3 
9.0 
12.3 
12.3 
9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
7.4 
7.4 


Feet. 
1.8 
1.8 
1.7 
1.7 
1.7 

"i.y 


Sec.-ft. 
12.3 
12.3 
9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
9.0 
10.0 
12.0 


20 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

1.6 

1.6 

1.6 

1.6 

1.6 

"i.y 

1.7 
1.8 

"i."8" 


Sec.-ft. 
5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
7.4 
9.0 
9.0 
12.3 
12.3 
12.3 
12.3 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 






21 










3 






22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 


1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.6 
1.7 
1.7 
1.6 
1.6 


5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
5.8 
9.0 
9.0 
5.8 
5.8 
4.1 
2.5 






4. 










5. 






1.8 
1.8 






6 










7 










8. . 






1.8 
1.9 

1.8 
1.8 
1.7 
1.8 
1.8 
1.7 
1.7 




9... 










10... 










11.. 










12... 










31 


1.5 




















14 










Mea 




o5.9 

0.43 

.16 




11.0 

0.797 

.92 




b 10.0 


15 











Run-off per 
square mile.. 

Run-off, depth 
in inches 




16. 










0.724 


17... 












18... 












.27 


19 






16.5 

























a July 22 to 31. 



b September 1 to 10. 



SORRELS CREEK. 



Sorrels Creek, a tributary to Elliott Creek about 3 miles above its 
mouth, rises in the Chatanika divide, to the west of Flat Creek, and 
flows westward along this divide for about 5 miles, then, by an abrupt 
bend to the left, it takes a southerly course for about 6 miles to 



LITTLE CHENA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



Ill 



Elliott Creek. The stream flows in a narrow irregular channel, 
rather deeply cut in the muckhke bottom lands, and is well hidden 
from view by the masses of spruce and willow along its banks. 

A gaging station was established on this stream about one-half mile 
above its mouth July 23, 1907, and regular readings were taken. 

Discharge measurements of Sorrels Creek near mouth. 1907. 



««»• sSSon. Mglt. ' ««*«*. 



Feet. 

July 23 11.0 

August 5 17. 

August 20 12. 



Daily gage height and discharge of Sorrels Creek near mouth, 1907. 
[Elevation, 800 feet; drainage area, 21 square miles.] 




Day. 



Julv. 



August. 



1 


Feet. 


See.-ft. Feet. 
1.1 


2 1.4 


3 


1.4 


4 




1.5 


5 




1.35 


6 




1.3 








8 




1.3 


9 




1.4 


10. 




1.3 


11 




1.3 


12... 




.. . 1.2 


13 


1.2 


14 


1.2 


15 


1.1 


16... 


1.1 


17 




18 




19 





September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


+3 


3 


-a 

■ & 

§ 


1 


If N 
"3 

1 


to 

3 




1 
1 


Feet. 
1.2 
1.2 
1.1 

1.1 
1.1 

i.i 


Sec.-ft. 
19.0 
19.0 
14.7 
14.7 
14.7 
14.7 
14.7 
14.7 
14.7 
19.0 


■Feet. 
20 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

"l.T 
1.1 
1.2 

"\.2 


Sec.-ft. 
10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
12.5 
14.7 
14.7 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


21 








22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 


1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 

1.1 
1.1 

1.0 
1.0 

"".9 


10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
10.3 
14.7 
14.7 
10.3 
10.3 
8.2 
6.0 






















19.0 
19-0 
19.0 
19.0 





































Mea 


n 


al0.5 

0.500 

.19 





18.2 


616 






Run-off per 
square mile.. 

Run-off depth 
in inches 








0.867 




.762 















1.00 


.28 









a July 22-31. 6 Sept. 1-10. 

FISH CREEK ABOVE MOUTH OF FAIRBANKS CREEK. 

Fish Creek rises in the high ridge at the head of Goldstream Creek 
and flows in a northeasterly direction through an irregularly formed 
valley. About 14 miles below its source it makes an abrupt bend to 
the right, flowing around the point of a rather steep divide that sep- 
arates its drainage from that of the Little Chena, into which it dis- 
charges about 2 miles below this bend. Its principal tributaries are 
Solo, Bear, Fairbanks, and Miller creeks, all from the left. These 
streams are rather steep in their upper courses but rapidly lessen in 
slope as Fish Creek Valley is approached. Fish Creek has a tortuous 
course and closely follows the right side of the valley, having a rather 
broad, marshy bottom land on the left. 



112 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



A gaging station was established a short distance above Fairbanks 
Creek July 22, 1907 (see Pis. IX; XI, B), and regular readings were 
taken. 

Discharge measurements of Fish Creek above mouth of Fairbanks Creek, 1907. 



Date. 



Width. 


Area of 
section. 


Gage 
height. 


Feet. 


Sq.ft. 


Feet. 


9.5 


•10.4 


1.00 


10.0 


12.2 


1.00 


14.5 


17.5 


1.55 


12.7 


14.0 


1.35 


9.2 


9.95 


1.00 



Discharge. 



July 21... 
July 25... 
August 3 . 
August 4. 
August 19 



Sec.-ft. - 
23.7 
24.3 
47.8 
37.6 
20.8 



Daily gage height and discharge of Fish Creek above mouth of Fairbanks Creek, 1907. 
[Elevation, 925 feet; drainage area, 39 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day, 


55 

<D 

8P 

o 


6 
03 

1 
s 


§ 
,3 

bo 

O 


o3 

i 

5 


■a 

53 

be 

o3 
O 


o3 

GO 

s 


55 

1 


o3 

■a 

GO 

s 


A 
bfi 
'53 

<B 

bo 

o3 
C5 


if 

03 
o 

00 

s 


I 


6 
» 

o3 

■s 

CO 

5 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

3.2 

2.4 

1.4 

1.3 


Sec.-ft. 
155 
100 
39 
35 
37 
39 
47 
35 
50 
50 
39 
31 
27 
27 
27 
24 
24 
24 
24 


Feet. 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.1 

"i.Y 

l.i 

1.3 


Sec.-ft. 
24 
24 
24 
24 
27 
27 
27 
27 
27 
35 


20 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
27 
27 
24' 
24 
27 
31 
27 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 ! 




21 






1.0 
1.0 

"To" 

1.1 
1.1 
1.0 
1.0 

"'i.Y 
1.1 






3 ! 




22 

23 


1.0 


24 
24 
24 
24 
27 
24 
21 
21 
18 
18 






4 








5 






24 








6 






1.4 

1.55 

1.3 

1.6 

1.6 


25 

26 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 


1.0 

1.1 
1.0 
.9 

.9 
.8 
.8 






7 










8 










9 










10 










11 










12 






1.2 
1.1 
1.1 
1.1 
1.0 
1.0 










13 












14 






2.6 


a 115 


Mei 


m 


&22.5 
.577 
.21 




36.8 

.944 
1.09 




c26.6 


15 






Run-off . per 
square mile. . 

Run-off, depth 
in inches 




16 










.682- 


17 












18 










.25 


19. 






1.0 

























a Not included in mean. 



b July 22 to 31. 



c Sept. 1 to 10. 



BEAR CREEK. 

Bear Creek rises in the high divide at the head of Goldstream Creek, 
flows eastward through a deep, narrow valley, and empties into Fish 
Creek about one-half mile above the gaging station. Measurements 
were made on this creek below the mouth of Tecumseh Creek as fol- 
lows: July 20, 8.4 second-feet; August 22, 7 second-feet; drainage 
area, 12 square miles; run-off per square mile, 0.70 and 0.584 second- 
foot, respectively. 

FAIRBANKS CREEK. 

Fairbanks Creek rises on the eastern side of Pedro Dome, opposite 
the headwaters of Cleary Creek, and flows in an easterly direction for 
about 10 miles to Fish Creek. It is separated from Bear Creek on the 



LITTLE CHENA RIVTER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



113 



right by a steep, high ridge, rising from 800 to 1,000 feet above the 
stream bed. The valley to the left has a more gradual slope and is 
drained by several small tributaries — Moose, Crane, Alder, Walnut, 
and Deep creeks. The stream has rather steep slopes in its upper 
course. Below Moose Creek the average fall is about 75 feet to the 
mile. The stream flows close to the dividing ridge on the east until 
it approaches the broad lowland near Fish Creek. The lower portion 
flows through a narrow, deep-cut channel, thickly lined with willow 
and spruce. 

Discovery claim is located near Alder Creek. Mining operations 
are carried on from claim 9 above to claim 13 below. The pay streak 
follows closely to the stream channel down to claim 9 below, where it 
swings to the left limit. Above claim 2 below most of the work is 
by the open-cut method. Below this point it is underground by 
drifting. The following measurements were made in 1907, but owing 
to the unfavorable conditions they are approximate only : 

Discharge measurements of Fairbanks Creek, 1907. 



Pate. 


Elevation. 


Discharge. 




Feet. 
1,300 
1,250 
1,375 
1,400 


Sec.-ft. 
1.4 


Do 


2.2 


July 5 


.72 


July 20 


1.3 







MILLER CREEK. 

Miller Creek rises in the southeasterly slope of Coffee Dome, and 
flows in a southerly direction, emptying into Fish Creek about 2 
miles above its confluence with Little Chena River. It is about 6 
miles long and flows through a narrow valley, draining an area of 16.7 
square miles. The following discharge measurements were made in 
1907: 

Discharge measurements of Miller Creek, 1907. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Elevation. 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Run-off 

per 
square 
mile. 


July 6 


Near mouth 


Feet. 
750 
750 
750 
790 
790 
800 


Sq. miles. 
15 
15 
15 
10 
10 
6 


Sec.-ft. 
7.0 
7.6 
8.0 
8.0 
8.0 
4.9 


Sec.-ft. 
0.47 


July 24 


do 


51 


August 20 . . . 


do... 


.53 


August 6 . . . . 


Below mouth of Heim Creek. . 


.80 


August 7 . ... 


.....do 


.80 


Do 


Above mouth of Heim Creek 


.82 









35283— irr 218- 



11*1 WATEE SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

CHATANIKA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Chatanika River is formed by the junction of Faith and McManus 
creeks, which drain the high ridge forming the divide between the 
lower Tanana and Yukon basins. The river flows through a long and 
rather narrow valley in a southwesterly direction and is tributary to 
the Tolovana from the east, about 30 miles above the confluence of 
that stream with the Tanana. Its course lies mostly to the western 
side of the valley, which is from one-half mile to 7 miles in width. 
The valley is about 80 miles in length and heavily covered with timber 
below .an altitude of 1,800 to 2,000 feet. The river has a drainage 
area of approximately 1,300 square miles above its mouth. 

From the junction of Faith and McManus creeks the stream flows 
in a winding course and has a shifting, gravelly bottom. In low and 
medium stages it flows in a series of pools and rapids and has a width 
of 75 to 200 feet, and during the high-water period it often seeks 
several channels and covers a width of 100 to 400 feet. This high- 
water channel is usually well defined by steep, alluvial banks ranging 
from 8 to 10 feet in height. 

Below Poker Creek, a tributary from the right about 40 miles 
downstream from the junction, the valley widens and the bottom 
lands become marshy and swampy. Here, from the left, the Chata- 
nika receives the drainage from Cleary, Eldorado, Dome, Vault, and 
other less important streams from the mining district proper. Below 
these tributaries the valley narrows to a gorgelike channel which it 
follows for about 10 miles. Below this gorge the dividing ridges dis- 
appear and the stream meanders through the low, swampy grounds to 
the north of Tanana River. About 10 miles from its mouth Gold- 
stream Creek, its largest tributary, joins it from the left. 

The average elevation of the divides in the upper drainage area of 
the Chatanika is between 3,000 and 4,000 feet above sea level, and the 
altitude of the ridges bounding the valley on the east and west is 
about 2,000 feet. 

The tributary streams from the right are short and precipitous, 
flowing through V-shaped valleys; those from the left have less pre- 
cipitous courses and broader valleys, and gradually lose themselves in 
the rather broad expanse of swamplike bottom lands which prevail on 
that side. 

The altitude and drainage area of the upper Chatanika has 
attracted the attention of "outside" capital for some time. The 
general topography has seemed suitable for a possible water supply by 
ditch line to the mining district proper, and the favorable slope of 
portions of Faith and McManus creeks has made them attractive to 
the promoter for hydraulicking. 



CHATANIKA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



115 



Several gaging stations were established in this drainage basin 
during 1907. In June A. D. Gassaway, general manager of the 
Chatanika Ditch Company, began the first records of actual stream 
flow in this section by establishing gaging weirs at the mouth of Faith 
and McManus creeks. 

Through the courtesy of this company, the records are published on 
page 117 in this report. 

FAITH CREEK. 

Faith Creek, the right fork of Chatanika River, has its source in the 
southeasterly slope of the high ridges separating the Beaver and Birch 
Creek drainage basin from that of the Chatanika. It has a rather 
narrow, irregular valley, very steep in its upper course, and drains an 
area of 51 square miles. 

The following measurements were made in its upper drainage basin 
July 11, 1907. 

Hope Creek near the mouth of Zephyr Creek : Discharge, 7.7 second- 
feet; run-off, 0.42 second-foot per square mile. 

Charity Creek about 1 mile above the mouth of Hope Creek: Dis- 
charge, 5.7 second-feet; run-off, 0.76 second-foot per square mile. 

In the upper portion of the valley considerable glacial ice remains 
as late as the middle of July, especially in Charity Creek. Below the 
mouth of Deep Creek, a tributary from the right in the lower valley, 
there is a favorable reservoir site and with a moderate-sized dam a 
considerable amount of the flood waters could be stored. 

The Chatanika Ditch Company established a gaging weir at the 
mouth of Faith Creek in 1907, and daily records were kept subsequent 
to June 21. 

Daily discharge, in second-feet, of Faith Creek at weir near mouth, 1907. 
[Elevation, 1,375 feet. Drainage area, 51 square miles.] 



Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




32.6 
28.5 
26.4 
24.8 
22.1 
21.6 
22.0 
20.8 
20.1 
19.2 
21.0 
20.5 
20.1 
21.0 
20.9 
21.7 
35.3 
35.0 
62.5 


36.4 
41.1 
35.9 
34.7 
42.5 
40.6 
87.4 
62.7 
52.4 
44.2 
39.0 
35.0 
42.8 
35.6 
33.6 
34.4 
30.8 
30.6 
28.5 


59.0 
52.5 
50.2 
66.4 


20 


44.7 
44.7 
42.8 
39.3 
38.8 
35.3 
36.5 
34.4 
45.9 
43 6 
36.8 


43.9 
38.6 
31.4 
25.5 
28.8 
26.4 
61.0 
42.0 
28.4 
30.6 
26.7 
25.0 


27.8 
26.9 
44.2 
39.4 
49.8 
62.8 
82.6 
69.3 
62.6 
70.5 
72.5 
67.8 




2.„ 




21 . 




3 




22 




4 




23.... .. 




5 




24. 











25 




7 






26 




8 






27 




9 






28 




10 






29... 




11 






30.. 




12 






31 . 




13 






Mean ..... 
Run - off per 

square miJe . . . 
Run-off, depth 

in inches 






14 






«40. 5 
.795 
.32 


29.2 

.572 
.66 


47.5 
.932 
1.07 




15 








16 








17 








18 .*. 








19 

















a June 20 to 30. 
Note.— Thosp. data were furnished by the Chatanika Ditch Company. 



116 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



MCMANUS CREEK. 

McManus Creek, the left fork of Chatanika River, rises in a some- 
what lower divide than Faith Creek, though Idaho and Montana 
forks reach well up toward the headwaters of Homestake and Charity 
creeks, of the Faith Creek drainage basin. The main fork and Pool 
and Smith creeks, which are tributary to McManus Creek near its 
mouth, interlock with the headwaters of Birch Creek, a tributary to 
the Yukon and with the West Fork of the Chena, a tributary to the 
Tanana. The streams in the McManus Creek basin are not so pre- 
cipitous as the tributaries of Faith Creek, and the run-off per square 
mile is less. There are one or two possible reservoir sites in this 
basin, but they are not as favorable as those on Faith Creek. The 
drainage area above the mouth of McManus Creek is 80 square miles. 

A gaging weir was established near the mouth of McManus Creek 
about June 22, 1907, by the Chatanika Ditch Company and regular 
readings were taken subsequent to that date. The following meas- 
urements were made in this drainage basin in 1907: 

Discharge measurements in drainage basin of McManus Creek, 1907. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Eleva- 
tions 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Run-off 

per square 

mile. 


July 10 

Do 




Feet. 
1,375 
1,375 
1,400 
,400 
1,375 
2,000 

1,975 
1,800 

1,390 
1,400 

1,400 
1,450 
1,450 
1,380 


So. miles. 
80 
80 
42.8 
34 
80 
8 

10 
26 


Sec.-ft. 
15.6 
16.4 
10.2 

7.8 
15.6 

1.8 

3.8 
6.5 

621.4 
12.4 

8.7 

5.4 

2.4 

619.4 


Sec.-ft. 
0.195 


do 


.205 


July 12 

Do 


McManus Creek above Smith Creek 

Smith Creek near mouth 


.243 
.229 


Do 


McManus Creek at mouth 


.192 


July 13 

Do 

Do 

Do 


McManus Creek f mile above Montana 

Creek. 
McManus Creek below Montana Creek. 
McManus Creek 1J miles below Idaho 

Creek. 
McManus Creek \ mile above mouth. . . 
McManus Creek 500 feet above Smith 

Creek. 
Smith Creek near mouth 


.162 

.380 
.250 


Julyl4 

Do 


42 

34 
17 
14 


.296 
.256 


Do 




.323 


Do 




.172 


Do . 















a Taken from topographic map of Fairbanks quadrangle; approximate only. 
b Measurement approximate. 



CHATANIKA EIVEE DKAINAGE BASIN. 

Daily discharge, in second-feet, of McManus Creek at weir near mouth, 1907. 
[Elevation, 1,375. Drainage area, 80 square miles.] 



117 



Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Day. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


1 




21.6 
20.1 
19 

18.5 
• 17.8 
16.1 
17.5 
17.8 
15.8 
15.0 


81.2 
80.8 
56.1 
51.2 
63.4 
60.6 
98.6 
84.3 
75.6 
77.8 
62.2 
49.8 
45.5 
40.0 
37.2 
42.4 
39.0 
37.4 
34.7 


71.5 
62.8 
57.8 
57.2 


20 


34.8 

34.8 

31.2 

34.8 

25 

21.7 

25 

24.3 

31.1 

26 

23.2 


31.6 

26 

21.2 

17.8 

21.4 

19.1 

38.6 

29.1 

23.9 

21.8 

18.8 

16.7 


33.6 
32.2 
68.7 
50.3 
67.1 
81.2 

102 
92.6 
91.2 

114 

112 
94.1 


• 


2 




21 




3 




22 




4 




23 




5 




24 




6 




25 




7 




26 




8 




27 




9 




28 




10 




29 




11 




16.1 

15 

15.4 

17.8 

18.5 

19 


30 




12 




31 








Mean 

Run-off per 

square mile.. 
Run-off, depth 

in inches..,.. 






14 




a 28. 5 
.356 
.15 


21.4 
.268 
.31 


66.4 
.830 
.96 




15 






16 






17 




21.6 








34.7 
40 




19 











a June 20 to 30. 

Note.— These data were furnished by the Chatanika Ditch Company. 

CHATANIKA RIVER NEAR JUNCTION OF FAITH AND MCMANUS CREEKS. 

A gaging station was established July 16, 1907, on the Chatanika 
about 2,000 feet below the confluence of Faith and McManus creeks, 
and readings were taken twice each day by M. T. Kerrick, an em- 
ployee of the Chatanika Ditch Company. The drainage area above 
this point is 132 square miles. 

Discharge measurements of Chatanika River near junction of Faith and McManus creeks, 

1907. 



Date. 


Hydrographer. 


Width. 


Area of 
section. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


July 16 


C C Covert 


Feet. 
47 
56 
57 
62 


Sq.ft. 
58 
68 
72 
98 


Feet. 
1.58 
1.80 
1.89 
2.26 


Sec.-ft. 
51.9 


July 26 


E. B. Brigham 


80.5 




.do. 


96.5 


August 7 


do 


188 









118 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Daily gage height and discharge of Chatanika River near junction of Faith and McManus 

creeks, 1907. 

[Elevation 1,350 feet; drainage area 132 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


Day. 


July. 


August. 


* Day. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


Gage 
height. 


Dis- 
charge. 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.80 
2.02 
1.86 
1.93 
1.95 
1.95 
2.25 
2.12 
2.05 
2.02 
1.92 
1.85 
1.85 
1.80 
1.80 
1.80 
1.80 
1.78 


Sec.-ft. 
80 
122 
92 
101 
106 
106 
186 
147 
128 
122 
101 
88 
88 
80 
80 
80 
80 
78 


19 


Feet. 
1.80 
1.75 
1.70 
1.62 
1.60 
1.64 
1.75 
1.85 
1.75 
1.67 
1.65 
1.60 
1.60 


Sec.-ft. 
80 
73 
66 
57 
54 
60 
73 
88 
73 
63 
60 
54 
54 


Feet. 
1.75 
1.75 
1.75 
1.98 
1.92 
2.04 
2.22 
2.25 
2.15 
2.13 
2.25 
2.25 


Sec.-ft. 
73 


2 






20 


73 


3 






21 


73 


4 






22 

23.. 


111 


5 






101 


6 






24.' 

25 

26 

27 

28 


122 


7 






177 


8 






186 


9 






154 


10 






147 


11 






29 


186 


12 






30 


186 


13 






31 


186 


14 








15 






a 67 
.508 
.29 




117 


16 






Run-off, per square mile. 
Run-off, depth in inches. 


.887 


17 


1.65 

1.86 


60 
90 


1.02 


18 









a July 17 to 31. 

Note. — For September: Maximum, 1,770 second-feet; minimum, 110 second-feet; mean, 297 second- 
feet. 

The following table gives the horsepower (80 per cent efficiency) 
per foot of fall that may be developed at different rates of discharge, 
and shows the number of days on which the discharge and the corre- 
sponding horsepower were respectively less than the amounts given 
in the columns for u discharge 77 and " horsepower. 77 

Discharge and horsepower table for Chatanika River near junction of Faith and McManus 

creeks, 1907. 



Discharge. 


Horsepower (80 per 
cent efficiency) per 
foot fall. 


Days of defi- 
cient dis- 
charge, June 
16 to August 
31. 


Discharge. 


Horsepower (80 per 
cent efficiency) per 
foot fall. 


Days of defi- 
cient dis- 
charge, June 
16 to August 
31. 


Sec.-ft. 
33 


3 




Sec.-ft. 
99 
110 
125 
143 
165 
220 


9 


56 


44 


4 


13 
19 
30 
40 

48 


10 

11.3 


62 


55 


5 


63 


66 


6 


13 


67 


77 


7 


15 

20 


72 


88 


8... 













Note.— The discharge from June 16 to 25 is estimated from float measurements: from June 2. r . to July 
17 from discharge over weirs at the mouth of Faith and McManus creeks. 



BOSTON CREEK. 

Boston Creek rises in the high ridge to the north of the Chatanika, 
to which it is tributary, about 24 miles below Faith Creek. It is 
about 5 miles long and has a total fall of about 2,000 feet. The fol- 
lowing measurement was made on this creek August 15, 1907, at an 
elevation of about 800 feet: Discharge, 3.9 second-feet; drainage area, 
0.5 square miles; run-off, 0.60 second-foot per square mile. 



CHATANIKA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 119 

MCKAY CREEK. 

« 

McKay Creek is the first stream to the west of Boston Creek, rises 
in the same divide, and empties into the Chatanika about 1 mile 
farther downstream. It is about 4 miles long and flows through a 
narrow, V-shaped valley. It has a drainage area of 6.7 square miles. 
The following measurement was made on this stream August 15, 1907, 
at an elevation of about 800 feet: Discharge, 3.7 second-feet; drain- 
age area, 6.2 square miles; run-off, 0.602 second-foot per square mile. 

BELLE CREEK. 

Belle Creek rises in the high divide at the head of Ophir and Poker 
creeks and flows in a southeasterly direction to the Chatanika. The 
stream is about 6 miles long and flows through a deep, narrow valley. 
It drains an area of 11.9 square miles. A measurement was mac^e on 
this stream August 15, 1907, at an elevation of about 800 feet, as 
follows: Discharge, 10 second-feet; drainage area, ^1 square miles; 
run-off, 0.91 second-foot per square mile. 

CROOKED CREEK. 

Crooked Creek rises in the divide at the head of Poker Creek and 
flows in a southeasterly direction nearly parallel to Belle Creek. It 
drains an area of 7.2 square miles. A measurement was made near 
its mouth August 15, 1907, as follows: Discharge, 6.3 second-feet; 
drainage area, 7.2 square miles; run-off, 0.875 second-foot per square 
mile. 

KOKOMO CREEK. 

Kokomo Creek, a tributary to Chatanika River from the left about 
28 miles below Faith Creek, rises in the high ridge at the head of Miller 
and Elliot creeks and flows in a northwesterly direction, draining an 
area of 33 square miles above its mouth. Daily readings were taken 
from a reference point in a large stump on the river bank about 1 mile 
above the mouth of the stream. 

Discharge measurements of Kokomo Creek near mouth, 1907. 



Date. 


Gage 
height . a 


Discharge. 


July 9 


Feet. 
-3.00 
-2.70 


Sec.-ft. 
13.9 


August 14 


22.7 







a Measured down from nail in stump. 



120 



WATEE SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Daily gage height and discharge of Kokomo Creek near mouth, 1907. 
[Elevation, 750 feet; drainage, area 26 square miles.] 





July. 


August. 


Bay. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


A 

fiD 

'53 

A 

ID 

bo 

o 


A 

5 


i 

■53 

A 

be 
oS 

O 


6 

1 

s 


i 

'53 
A 
a 

8P 

o 


s 


i 

53 
A 

CD 

o 


CD 

& 

1 
s 


1 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
-r0.9 
-1.2 
2.0 
2.2 
2.4 
2.4 
2.3 
2.4 
2.0 
2.2 
2.4 
2.5 
2.6 
2.7 


Sec.-ft. 
112 
68 
43.8 
37.9 
31.8 
31.8 
34.8 
31.8 
43.8 
37.9 
31.8 
28.9 
25.8 
22.7 


19 


Feet. 
3.0 
3.0 
3.0 
3.1 
3.2 
3.0 
3.1 
3.0 
3.0 
3.0 
3.1 
3.2 
3.2 


Sec.-ft. 
13.9 
13.9 
13.9 
10.9 
7.9 
13.9 
10.9 
13.9 
13.9 
13.9 
10.9 
7.9 
7.9 


Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


2 






20 






3 






21 






4 






22... 






5 






23 






6 






24 












25 






8 






26 






9 


-3.0 
3.1 
2.6 
2.8 
2.8 
2.9 
2.9 
2.9 
3.0 
2.8 


13.9 
10.9 
25.8 
19.8 
19.8 
16.8 
16.8 
16.8 
13.9 
19.8 


27 






10 


28 






11 


29 






12 


30 






13 ...... 


31 








Mean 






15 




a 14. 2 
.546 

.47 




Ml. 6 


16 






Run-off per square mile. . 
Run-off, depth in inches- 


1.60 


17 






.83 


18 

















a July 9 to 31. 



1 August 1 to 14. 



POKER CREEK. 

Poker Creek, with its tributary, Caribou Creek, rises in the high, 
barren ridges about Poker Dome and opposite the headwaters of 
Ophir, Trail, and Washington creeks. It drains an oval-shaped area 
of 40.5 square miles, well covered with timber, and has steep precipi- 
tous slopes in its upper course. 

The Tanana Electric Company is constructing a ditch line along the 
left bank of Poker Creek, following approximately the 800-foot con- 
tour. This ditch line will divert water from Poker, Little Poker, and 
Caribou creeks to a point on the Chatanika where about 80 feet head 
can be obtained. It is proposed to install a power plant at this point, 
to be run by water when available, and by steam at other times. 

Discharge measurements in Poker Creek drainage basin, 1907. 



Date. 


Point of measurement. 


Drainage 
area. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


Run-off 

per square 

mile. 


July 27. 

July 30 


Poker Creek § mile above mouth 

do 


So. miles. 
40 
40 
40 
40 


Feet. 
1.09 
1.10 
1.32 
1.33 


Sec.-ft. 
22.3 
22.6 
36.6 
37.8 
10.4 
3.9 
21.1 


Sec.-ft. 
0.558 
.565 




...do 


.915 




...do... 


.944 


Do 






Do... 










Do... 


Poker Creek 1 mile aboveCaribouCreek. 

















CHATANIKA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. 



121 



CHATANIKA RIVER BELOW MOUTH OF POKER CREEK. 

A gaging station was established on Chatanika River below Poker 
Creek June 23, 1907. A post gage driven firmly in the ground near 
the log chute of the Cleary Creek Lumber Company's mill was read 
twice each day by J. Fitzsimmons. 

Discharge measurements of Chatanika River below mouth of Poker Creek, 1907. 



Width. 



Area of 
section. 



Gage 
height. 



Discharge. 



June 22.. 
July 4.... 
August 9. 



Feet. 



Sq.ft. 
213 
192 
302 



Feet. 
l.C 



Sec.-ft. 



246 
178 



Daily gage height and discharge of Chatanika River below mouth of Poker Creek, 1907. 
[Elevation 700 feet; drainage area 456 square miles.] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


■a 

"53 
A 

CD 

SP 

© 


5 

A 

o 
co 

5 


A 
bo 
■53 
A 
<p 
bo 

© 


9 

i 

s 


s 

bO 

"53 
A 

CD 

ap 

© 


CD 

c3 
A 

o 
co 

s 


■a 

"53 

A 

CD 

8P 

© 


05 

A 
o 

CO 

5 


3 
A 

CD 

- bo 

© 


A 

o 

•co 

s 


1 


'Feet. 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 

0.9 
.9 
.9 
.8 
.8 
.8 
.8 
.95 
.85 
.80 
.90 
.90 
.95 
.9 

1.0 

1.05 

1.10 

1.1 

1.2 

1.15 

1.1 

1.1 
.95 
.9 
.9 

1.05 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.0 
.9 


Sec.-ft. 
192 
192 
192 
167 
167' 
167 
167 
204 
180 
167 
192 
192 
204 
192 
216 
232 

' 250 
250 
283 
266 
250 
250 
204 
192 
192 
232 
250 
250 
250 
216 
192 


Feet. 
2.1 
2.6 
2.0 
• 1.75 
1.75 
1.65 
1.5 
1.75 
1.9 
1.85 
1.6 
1.5 
1.35 
1.4 
1.25 
1.2 
1.1 
1.1 
1.0 
1.1 
1.1 
1.0 
1.15 
1.20 
1.35 
1.55 
1.3 
1.4 
1.55 
1.7 
1.6 


Sec.-ft. 
752 
1,160 
680 
530 
530 
480 
405 
530 
620 
590 
455 
405 
342 
363 
300 
283 
250 
250 
216 
250 
250 
216 
266 
283 
342 
430 
321 
363 
430 
505 
455 


Feet. 

1.45 

1.4 

1.3 

1.3 

1.25 

1.3 

1.3 

1.3 

1.45 

1.3 

1.35 

3.6 

4.45 

3.25 

2.85 

4.0 

4.3 

2.35 

2.5 

2.3 

2.35 

2.3 

2.25 

2.15 

2.0 

2.0 

2.0 

2.0 

2.15 

2.35 


Sec.-ft. 

384 

363 

321 

321 

300 

321 

321 

321 

384 

321 

342 

a 2, 160 

a 3, 160 

a 1, 780 

a 1,390 

o2, 620 

a 2, 980 

942 

1 060 

901 

942 

901 

860 

788 

680 

680 

680 

680 

788 

942 


Feet. 

2.25 

2.0 

1.85 

1,75 

1.70 

1.65 

1.6 

1.45 

1.25 

1.05 

1.45 

1.85 

1.80 

1.75 


Sec.-ft. 
860 


2 






680 


3. . 






590 


4 






530 


5.. 






505 


6 






480 








455 


8 






384 


9 






300 


10 






232 


11 






384 


12 






590 


13 






560 


14 






530 


15 








16 










17 










18 










19 










20 


1.10 

1.10 
1.10 
1.10 
1.05 
1.00 

.90 

.9 
1.0 
1.1 
1.0 


250 
250 
250 
250 
232 
216 
192 
192 
216 
250 
216 






21 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 






28 






29 






30 






31 




















Mean 




«>228 
.500 
.20 




211 
.463 
.53 




428 
.939 
1.08 




954 
2.09 
2.33 




«506 


Second-feet per square mile . . 




1.1] 


Depth in inches 




.68 









a Estimated by extending rating curve. 6 June 20 to 30. 

Note.— The river was frozen over after October 14. 



c October 1 to 14. 



122 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

CLEARY CREEK. 

Cleary Creek heads to the north of Pedro Dome in a rather low 
saddle which separates its waters from those of Little Eldorado Creek 
and which has an elevation of about 1,800 feet. It flows in a north- 
erly direction for about 3 miles, then, by a gradual curve to the left, 
takes a northwesterly course to Chatanika River, to which it is tribu- 
tary from the left about 2 miles below Poker Creek. 

The creek has an average slope of about 90 feet to the mile through 
the mining section. It is considered the best producer in the camp. 
(See PL X.) The pay streak follows the creek channel closely about 
to claim 15 below. At that point it swings to the left bank, which it 
follows to the Chatanika Flats. (See PI. XI, A.) 

Cleary Creek has a drainage area of 10.5 square miles above its 
mouth. A measurement made July 4 near Cleary gave a discharge 
of 2.9 second-feet. 

LITTLE ELDORADO CREEK. 

Little Eldorado Creek rises on the western slope of Pedro Dome and 
drains a rather narrow valley between Dome and Vault creeks. It 
has a steep slope in its upper portion. The average fall of the creek 
through the mining section is 115 feet per mile. It is about 5 miles 
long and drains an area of 13.7 square miles. The creek flows in a 
narrow, rather deep-cut channel, well lined with willows. 

The pay streak is on the right bank and is located from claim 7 
above to claim 4 below. Bed rock ranges from 90 to 122 feet below 
the surface, with 10 to 80 feet of gravel. The following measurement 
was made June 26, 1907: Discharge, 0.45 second-foot, elevation, 930 
feet; drainage area, 4 square miles; run-off, 0.112 second-foot per 
square mile. 

DOME CREEK. 

Dome Creek rises in the Chatanika divide, opposite Steamboat and 
Flume creeks, and flows northward into Chatanika River. It is 
about 5 miles long and drains an area of 13.9 square miles. The 
creek has an average grade through the mining section of about 70 
feet to the mile and good values are found in its upper and lower 
courses. Discovery claim is located on the right bank near the town 
of Dome. The creek is being worked on several claims from 7 above 
to 20 below. The pay streak is on the right bank for practically its 
entire length. Bed rock ranges from 40 feet below the surface in the 
upper portion to more than 200 feet below in the Chatanika Flats, 
near the mouth. Very little water flows in the main channel during 
the low-water period, a large part of the flow being diverted by numer- 



GOLDSTREAM CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 128 

ous small ditches. A measurement, made June 27, 1907, in a ditch 
near claim 2 below, gave an approximate discharge of 0.84 second- 
foot. 

GOLDSTREAM CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 

Goldstream Creek flows through a long, narrow valley between the 
drainage basin of Chatanika River on the right and the Little Chena 
and Tanana basins on the left. It has a southwesterly direction, 
paralleling Chatanika River, and drains the central portion of the Fair- 
banks mining district. The stream flows in a winding course over a 
sandy, shifting bed. The channel is deeply cut in the alluvial soil that 
forms the bottom lands. Its length is about 70 miles and it drains an 
area of 500 square miles. About 40 miles below its source the stream 
leaves the dividing ridges and for the remainder of its course flows in a 
zigzag channel across the soft, mucky flats northwest of Tanana 
River, emptying into the Chatanika from the east. x 

On either side of the stream is a narrow lowland having a gradual 
slope toward the dividing ridges. This is covered with the conven- 
tional moss, and in the lower portion of the valley, where it widens, 
has numerous lakes and swamps. The bottom land has been well 
covered with timber, but this has disappeared ' o make way for 
railroad and mining enterprises, which make the upper portion of the 
valley a scene of activity. The dividing ridges on either side are 
well timbered with spruce and birch and rise about 1,000 feet above 
the stream bed. About 12 miles below the source, the southern 
ridge has a low saddle over which the Tanana Mines Railroad from 
Fairbanks enters the mining district. 

The upper portion of the valley is drained by Pedro and Gilmore 
creeks, which join to form Goldstream Creek near Gilmore, about 
12 miles north of Fairbanks. 

Pedro Creek, the right fork of Goldstream Creek, is about 6 miles 
long and has a fall of 100 to 200 feet to the mile in its upper course. 
About 3 miles from its source Twin Creek, _ a tributary from the 
right, enters. Here, in 1902, gold was first found in the Fairbanks 
district, by Felix Pedro. Below this point the creek has a grade of 
about 80 feet to the mile, which gradually grows less as it approaches 
Goldstream Creek. Along Pedro Creek the pay streak follows the 
stream channel closely and bed rock is from 10 to 30 feet below the 
surface. 

On Goldstream Creek the pay streak is along the right bank 
about to claim 10 below and then swings to the left bank, which it fol- 
lows about to claim 22 below. Farther than this, it has no!: been 



124 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



definitely located. The depth to bed rock ranges from 20 to 60 
feet. 

Gilmore Creek, the left fork of Goldstream Creek, has shown small 
values and very little work is in progress. The creek has a fairly 
good grade and drains an area of 11.8 square miles. 

There are numerous small tributaries to Goldstream Creek from 
either side. Those from the right are Fox, Gold Run, Big Eldorado, 
O'Connor, and Cache creeks. Those from the left are Engineer, 
Butter, Spear, Nugget, Straight, and Allen creeks. Prospecting 
and more or less mining is done on nearly all these creeks. They 
average from 4 to 12 miles in length and drain small areas. 

On the upper portion of Goldstream Creek and along Pedro Creek 
several small ditches have been built to divert the water for sluicing. 
The largest one is that owned by the Goldstream Ditch Company. 
The cost of construction was about $6,500. It is about 2 miles in 
length and has a fall of about 7 feet to the mile. It diverts water 
from claim 6 below, along the left bank of Goldstream Creek, sup- 
plying several mines at the rate of $2 per hour per sluice head, which 
ranges from 60 to 80 inches of water. A measurement made June 
28, 1907, in the lower end of a flume near the intake to this ditch 
gave a discharge of 10.8 second-feet. 

GOLDSTREAM CREEK AT CLAIM 6 BELOW. 

On account of the unfavorable condition of the channel of Gold- 
stream Creek and the numerous small ditches that divert the flow, 
it was impossible to secure a good location for a gaging station. 
However, a gage was established near the lower line of claim 6 below, 
a short distance above the intake to the Goldstream ditch, June 20, 
1907, and a reading was taken twice each day by John L. Meder. 
The water diverted by a small ditch a short distance above the gaging 
station is not considered in the table of estimates. Several measure- 
ments made in this ditch gave an average discharge of 1.5 second-feet. 

Discharge measurements of Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below, 1907. 



t)ate. 


Width. 


Area of 
section. 


Gage 
height. 


Discharge. 


June 21 


Feet. 
11.3 
12.4 


Sq. ft. j Feet. 
8.1 1 1.00 

10. 3 1 - 31 


Sec-feet. 
10.8 


Juno. 28. . . 


21.1 











U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 213 PL. XI 




A. LOWER CLEARY CREEK. 




B. GAGING STATION ON FISH CREEK. 



BEAVER CREP]K DRAINAGE BASIN. 



125 



Daily gage height and discharge of Goldstream Creek at claim 6 below, 1907. 
[Elevation, 870 feet; drainage area, 28.6 square miles. ] 





June. 


July. 


August. 


September. 


October. 


Day. 


A 
be 

"3 

A 

03 

SP 

03 

o 


6 

be 

U 

■a 

s 


bp 

A 

be 

03 

o 


o5 

1 

5 


I 
3 
A 

03 

bo 

o3 

o 


? 

If 
A 
g 

5 


A 
be 
"53 
A 

03 
o? 

o 


03 

be 

s 


A 
be 
'3 
A 

<D 

bo 

o 


03 

A 
o 

Q 


Feet. 
1 i 


Sec.-ft. 


Feet. 
1.3 
1.05 
1.0 

.95 

.8 

.75 
1.15 
1.05 
1.0 

.85 
1.6 
1.55 
1.2 
1.1 
1.65 
1.5 
1.25 
1.15 
1.05 
1.05 
1.0 

.95 

.9 
1.05 

.95 

.95 

.85 

.85 

.8 

.8 

. 7 


Sec.-ft. 
20.7 
12.3 
10.8 

9.3 

4.9 
.3.6 
15.4 
12.3 
10.8 

6.4 
32.2 
30.2 
17.1 
13.8 
34.4 
28.2 
18.9 
15.4 
12.3 
12.3 
10.8 

9.3 

7.8 
12.3 

9.3 

9.3 

6.4 

6.4 

4.9 

4.9 

2.2 


Feet. 
1.55 
1.6 
1.3 
1.15 
1.1 
1.15 
1.4 
1.45 
1.35 
1.6 
1.45 
1.15 
1.1 
1.05 
1.05 
1.1 
1.0 
1.0 
1.0 
1.1 
1.25 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.25 
1.35 
1.3 
1.35 
1.45 
1.5 
1.5 


Sec.-ft. 

30.2 

32.2 

20.7 

15.4 

13.8 

15.4 

24.4 

26.3 

22.5 

32.2 

26.3 

15.4 

13.8 

12.3 

12.3 

13.8 

10.8 

10.8 

10.8 

13.8 

18.9 

20.7 

20.7 

20.7 

18.9 

22.5 

20.7 

22.5 

26.3 

28.2 , 

28.2 


Feet. 

1.25 

1.20 

1.20 

1.25 

1.30 

1.2 

1.2 

1.15 

1.2 

1.15 

1.35 

1.7 

1.7 

1.5 

1.5 

1.8 X 

1.55 x 

1.45 

1.3 

1.6 

1.45 

1.4 

1.55 

1.45 

1.4 

1.4 

1.3 

1.25 

1.35 

1.4 


Sec.-ft. 

18.9 

17.1 

17.1 

18.9 

20.7 

17.1 

17.1 

15.4 

17.1 

15.4 

22.5 

36.6 

36.6 

28.2 


Feet. 
1.3 
1.3 
1.4 
1.3 
1.3 
1.3 
1.2 


Sec.-ft. 
20.7 


2 ! 




20.7 


3. 




24.4 


4 




20.7 






20.7 


6. 




20.7 


7. 




17.1 


8. 






9. 






10 








11 






... 


12 








13 








14 






"" 


15 






28.2 
41. 
30.2 
26.3 






16 










17 










18 










19 






20.7 
32.2 
26.3 
24.4 
30.2 
26.3 
24.4 
24.4 
20.7 
18.9 
22.5 
24.4 







20.. 




1.0 
1.0 

.95 

.8 

.9 

.9 
1.05 
. .85 
1.3 
1.55 
1.45 


10.8 

10.8 

9.3 

4.9 

7.8 

7.8 

12.3 

6.4 

20.7 

30.2 

26.3 






21 






22 






23 






24 






25 






26 






27 




... 


28 






29 






30 






31 
























«13.4 
.469 
.192 




13.1 




20. 

.699 
.81 




24. 
.839 
.94 




620.7 






.458 | 

.53 


.724 


Run-off, depth in inches 




.19 













i June 20 to 30. 



b October 1 to 7. 



Note. — These discharges do not include the amount diverted at claim 3 below by a small ditch, carry- 
ing from 1 to 1.5 second-feet. The creek was frozen after October 7. 

FOX CREEK. 

Fox Creek rises in the Chatanika divide opposite Vault Creek. It 
is about 3 J miles long and flows southward, through a V-shaped val- 
ley, into Goldstream Creek. The following measurement was made 
July 6, 1907: Discharge, 2.0 second-feet; elevation, 900 feet. 

BEAVER CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION 



A high limestone ridge — the White Mountains — 50 miles to the 
north of Fairbanks, is perhaps the highest portion of the divide 
between the Yukon and Tanana drainage basins. Beaver Creek, 



126 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

which drains the largest part of this particular portion of the divide, 
has its source far back in the deep canyons of the southern slope. 
There are two branches of Beaver Creek in its upper drainage basin 
that join at about latitude 65° 25' north, and longitude 147° west. 
These two branches drain the highest portion of the mountains. The 
southern branch rises in a high ridge opposite the tributaries of 
Preacher Creek. It has a steep and tortuous course, flowing over a 
rocky bed and through a deep valley. The northern or main branch 
of Beaver Creek drains to the south the central portion of the moun- 
tain ridge. The gorgelike valley of the upper portion of this branch 
runs in an east- west direction and forms with the main valley a letter 
T. The course of the northern branch is tortuous and the bed is 
rough and gravelly. In the valley at the junction of these two 
branches some timber is found, and there are also small patches of 
meadow land. From the junction the main stream takes a westerly 
course for about 25 miles, then makes an abrupt bend to the right and 
flows in a northeasterly direction, draining the northern slope of the 
White Mountains. Its course above the "big bend" is through a 
rather broad, parklike valley, over a wide gravelly bed, in a series of 
riffles and pools. This portion of the stream, with its tributaries, 
drains the southern slope of the White Mountains. In many places 
the stream has several channels, forming numerous islands which are 
usually covered with a heavy growth of timber. 

Bear and Bryan creeks are the important tributaries from the right. 
High, barren limestone ridges separate these creeks and form deep, 
narrow, gorgelike valleys, through which the streams flow over pre- 
cipitous, narrow beds. 

There is but little timber on the slopes of the mountains except in 
the lower course of the stream, and here the average size is smaller 
than that of the timber in the Chatanika and Little Chena basins. 

The southern tributaries of Beaver Creek above the big bend are 
Nome, Ophir, Trail, and Wickersham creeks, whose upper portions 
drain the dividing ridge to the north of Chatanika River. These 
streams have more gradual slopes than the northern tributaries, and 
flow through rather narrow channels cut deep into the soft, alluvial 
soil of which their bottom lands consist. The ridges separating these 
creeks are at a much lower elevation than those on the northern slope. 
They are covered with timber and the many small streams which 
drain their slopes are fed by numerous springs. The general direc- 
tion of these streams, with the exception of Nome Creek, is to the 
northwest— a course almost opposite to that of the main creek which 
receives their black, tranquil waters. 

The upper portion of the Beaver Creek drainage basin is oval in 
shape and rises to an elevation of 1,800 to 4,000 feet. A portion of 



BEAVER CREEK DRAINAGE BASIN. 



127 



the easterly divide has an altitude of 5,000 feet. About 8 miles below 
the "big bend" Fossil Creek enters Beaver Creek from the right 
through a deep, narrow canyon. It drains a long, narrow valley of 
rather high elevation, and rises on the northern slope of Cache Moun- 
tain, which has an elevation of over 4,000 feet and separates the Fossil 
Creek drainage basin from that of Bryan Creek. Fossil Creek flows in 
a northerly direction for 5 or 6 miles, makes a long, easy curve to the 
left, flows around the northern foothills, and finally takes a south- 
westerly course close to the high limestone ridge that separates it from 
Beaver Creek. 

In the upper portion of the Fossil Creek basin, on the right-hand 
side, there is a marked case of stream piracy. A small stream reaches 
into the right-hand part of the basin and takes a portion of the drain- 
age through a gorge of high elevation into Beaver Creek, about 12 
miles below the mouth of Fossil Creek 

Victoria Creek, a tributary from the left about 20 miles below 
Fossil Creek, has its source nearly opposite Cache Mountain and is 
separated from Beaver Creek, which it parallels for about 50 miles, 
by a limestone ridge ranging from 1,000 to nearly 3,000 feet above 
the bed of the stream. 

Some distance below the mouth of Victoria Creek, Beaver Creek 
changes its course to the left and flows in a northwesterly direction 
through a less mountainous country to the Yukon. 

Beaver Creek has every indication of furnishing a good water sup- 
ply. Its high drainage basin makes its waters desirable for either 
hydraulicking or power development. Although the present loca- 
tion of the mining camps is at a prohibitive distance for ditch lines, 
future developments may make valuable any information concern- 
ing the daily flow and run-off in this drainage basin. 

MEASUREMENTS. 

The following, miscellaneous measurements were made in Beaver 
Creek drainage basin: 



Miscellaneous measurements in Beaver Creek drainage basin, 1907. 



Date. 


Stream. 


Approxi- 
mate 
elevation. 


Drainage 
area. 


Discharge. 


Run-off per 
square 
mile. 


August 27 . . . 


Trail Creek 


' Feet. 
1,700 
1,500 
1,300 
1,800 
1,800 

1,800 

1,700 


Sq. miles. 
27 
15 

""" 48" 

122 

67 
120 


Sec.-ft. 
39.9 
16.0 
19.2 
75.3 
267 

124 
135 


Sec.-ft. 
1.48 


Do 


Brigham Creek 


1.06 


August 28 . . . 






August 29 . . . 

August 30 

Do 


Bryan Creek 

Beaver Creek above East Branch 

East Branch Beaver Creek above 


1.57 
2.19 

1.85 


Do 


Nome Creek near mouth 


1.12 



128 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



COMPARATIVE RUN-OFF OF DIFFERENT AREAS. 

In order to afford a comparison of the run-off of different drainage 
areas in 1907, the following tables have been prepared, showing the 
minimum daily flow, the monthly means in second-feet per square 
mile, and the mean weekly flow of the drainage areas investigated. 
These tables can be used in estimating the run-off of other streams 
in this section having similar areas. Considerable care should be used 
in making such estimates, on account of local conditions affecting 
the run-off. 

Minimum daily flow of streams in Fairbanks district, 1907. 





Eleva- 
tion. 


Date. 


Mini- 
mum 
flow. 


Drainage 
area. 


Mini- 
mum 

run-off 
per 

square 
mile. 


Duration of 
record. 


Point of measurement. 


From — 


To— 


Little Chena River above 

Elliott Creek. 
Elliott Creek above Sor- 


Feet. 
800 

800 

800 
925 

1,400 
1,400 
1,350 

750 

700 


July 22-25,29-31... 
July 31 


Sec.-ft. 

42 

2.5 

6 
18 

19.2 

15 

54 

7.9 

167 


Sq. miles. 
79 

13.8 

21 
39 

51 
80 
132 

26 

456 


Sec.-ft. 
0.53 

.18 

.28 
.46 

.38 
.19 
.41 

.30 

.36 


July 22 

...do.... 

...do.... 
...do.... 

June 20 
...do.... 
July 17 

July 9 

June 20 


Sept. 10 
Do. 


Sorrels Creek above 


...do 


Do. 


Fish Creek above Fair- 
banks Creek. 


July 30-31 

July 10 


Do. 
Sept. 4 
Sept.' 30 


McManus Creek at mouth. 


July 10-12 

July 31 


Faith Creek. 
Kokomo Creek near 

mouth. 
Chatanika River below 

Poker Creek. 


July 23, 30-31 

July 4-7,10 


Aug. 14 
Oct. 14 



Mean run-off in second-feet per square mile at gaging stations in Fairbanks district, 1907. 



Stream. 


Eleva- 
tion. 


Drain- 
age area. 


June 
20-30. 


July 
1-31. 


July 
22-31. 


Aug. 
1-31. 


Sept. 
1-31. 


Sept. 
1-10. 


Oct. 




Feet. 
800 
800 
800 
925 
1,400 
1,400 

1,350 

700 
870 


Sq. miles. 
79 

13.8 
21 
39 
51 
80 

132 

456 
28.6 






0.62 
.43 
.50 
.58 

a. 51 


1.08 
.80 
.87 
.94 
.93 
.83 

.89 

.94 
.70 




1.09 

.72 
.76 
.68 




Elliott 


























0.80 
.36 


0.57 

.27 












Chatanika River below 


2.18 

2.09 
.84 






Chatanika River below 


.50 

.47 


.46 
.46 




6 1.11 


Goldstream Creek 


c.72 



a July 17-31. 



b October 1-10. 



c October 1- 



WATER SUPPLY IN THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



129 



Mean weekly water supply, in second-feet, from Little Chena and Chatanika River basins, 

1907. 



Pate. 


Available 
for use 

by diver- 
sion at 

elevation 

1,350 feet. 


Available 
for use 

by 
pumping 
at eleva- 
tion 700 
feet. 


Available for use by diversion at elevation 800 
to 925 feet. 


Chata- 
nika 

River 
near 
Faith 

Creek. 


Chata- 
nika 
River 
below 
mouth of 
Poker 
Creek. 


Little 
Chena 
River 
above 
Elliott 
Creek. 


Elliott 
Creek 
above 
Sorrels 
Creek. 


Sorrels 
Creek 
above 

mouth. 


Fish 
Creek 
above 

Fair- 
banks. 


Total 
in Little 

Chena 
drainage 

basin. 


June 17-23 


86 

64 

44 

36 

64 

70 

80 

128 

82 

104 

169 

120 

513 

376 

216 














June 24-30 


216 
178 
190 
250 
224 
540 
516 
313 
260 
413 
324 
1,360 
1,480 
737 
655 
415 












July 1-7 












July 8-14 












July 15-21 












July 22-28 


52 
80 
110 
73 
56 
90 
82 


7 

12 
12 
10 

6 
11 

9 


12 
18 
24 
16 
10 
18 
15 
\ 


24 
55 
42 
26 
24 
26 
26 


95 




165 




188 


August 12-18... 


125 


August 19-25. . . 


96 


August 26-September 1 


145 
132 


September 9-15 




September 16-22 












September 23-29 












September 30-October 6 












October 7-13 




























Mean 


143 
513 
36 


504 

1,480 

190 


78 
110 
52 


10 
12 

6 


16 
24 
10 


32 
55 
24 


136 


Maximum 


188 




95 







DEVELOPMENT OF WATER SUPPLY IN THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



GENERAL CONDITIONS. 

Since the discovery of gold on Pedro Creek in the Fairbanks dis- 
trict in 1902, considerable attention has been given to this section of 
Alaska, and, with nearly a $9,000,000 output in 1906, renewed interest 
has centered in this region. 

The camp lies at the southern edge of the plateau country, almost 
where it breaks to the alluvial plain. At the present time a large part 
of the area may be spoken of as in a prospective stage of develop- 
ment. Little attention has been given to the development of water 
supply for mining purposes. The work has been carried on either by 
"open cuts" or by "drifting," as best suits the local conditions. The 
upper portions of the creeks usually favor the "open cut" method, 
as the bed rock ranges only from 8 to 20 feet below the surface. In 
the lower reaches, where the pay streak is from 50 to 250 feet under- 
ground, with 25 to 200 feet of overburden, "drifting" seems the only 
solution. The work being underground, where protection from severe 
weather is assured, this portion of the camp is active in winter as well 
as in summer. The pay gravel is hoisted to the surface and dumped 
35283— irr 218—08 9 



130 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

in large piles, where it awaits the spring break-up for sluicing, when 
high water follows the melting of the accumulated snow. (See PL X, 
p. 122.) 

The future development of this region, as of other mining districts 
in Alaska, depends largely on the economical development of its water 
resources. During July and part of August, 1907, the miners were 
obliged to resort to various schemes to secure sufficient water for 
sluicing. In some instances the water was returned for the second 
and third time to the sluice box by means of the steam pump, entail- 
ing extra expense both in fuel and equipment, and on a number of 
the creeks only about half of the mines were in operation. 

DITCH LINES. 

In general the relation of the mining camp to the surrounding 
country is not favorable for obtaining an outside water supply by 
gravity. The topography of the country is such that ditch lines 
from the larger drainage areas are not altogether practical. The 
camp lies in three drainage basins or valleys, separated by high 
dividing ridges, and, in order to supply the producing creeks in one 
valley with water by ditch line from another, the ditch must have a 
high elevation, which throws its source so far into the headwaters 
that there is only a small drainage area from which to draw the sup- 
ply and consequently but little water. 

On account of its elevation, the upper Chatanika drainage basin 
has received more attention concerning the water supply by ditch 
line to the mining camps than any other drainage area within a rea- 
sonable distance of the Fairbanks district. The supply from this 
stream, however, would have to be conveyed for over 100 miles 
through a ditch line, difficult to construct and maintain, and on 
account of its low head only a small number of producing creeks 
would be benefited. 

Numerous surveys and reports have been made favoring the con- 
struction of ditch lines from this drainage basin. The first plan pro- 
posed a ditch along the left bank of the Chatanika that would deliver 
water to Pedro Dome at an elevation of about 1,800 feet, which 
would be necessary in order to supply water to Goldstream and Fair- 
banks creeks on the other side of the divide. The intake of such a 
ditch would have an elevation of about 2,000 feet, or 600 feet higher 
than the mouth of Faith and McManus creeks, where records of 
stream flow were kept during the season of 1907. The drainage area 
above this intake would be about 100 square miles, or about 25 per 
cent less than at the point where measurements were made. 

During 1907 surveys were made for a proposed ditch, with an 
intake at the junction of Faith and McManus creeks. This ditch 



WATER SUPPLY IN THE FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 131 

would deliver water to the camps at an elevation of about 1,200 feet — 
much too low to supply water outside of the Chatanika drainage 
basin. The table on page 129 shows the weekly supply that would 
have been available for such a ditch, and the table on page 132 shows 
the number of days of deficient flow without storage and the amount 
of storage necessary to have maintained in the ditch a flow of 75, 100, 
or 125 second-feet. 

AVATER-POWER DEVELOPMENT. 

Water-power development for electric transmission in the Fairbanks 
district seems worthy of consideration. The table on page 118 shows 
the horsepower (80 per cent efficiency) that could have been devel- 
oped in 1907 from the water supply of the Chatanika at the junction 
of Faith and McManus creeks. This table shows also the duration 
in days for different rates of flow. The table on page 132 shows the 
storage that would have been necessary for the maintenance of a 
daily flow of 100 second-feet, which would furnish $.1 horsepower 
per foot of fall. 

By constructing a ditch for 12 or 15 miles along the Chatanika, 
which would divert water from a point near the junction of Faith and 
McManus creeks, a head of about 400 feet could be obtained. A daily 
flow of 100 second-feet under a 400-foot head would develop 3,640 
horsepower on the turbines. This could easily be transmitted to the 
mining camps, where, by the use of pumps, water from the Chatanika 
could be furnished to the producing creeks along this river. This 
would require less than 50 miles of distributing ditch. 

A similar enterprise, mentioned in the description of the Little 
Chena drainage basin (p. 107), would develop sufficient power for 
pumping water to Fairbanks Creek. 

This method of utilizing the water supply would dispense with 
many miles of ditch construction and would not only supply the camp 
with water, but also with power for running the hoist, elevating the 
tailings, pumping water from mines, lighting the underground work, 
and, in some localities, running the dredger. 

STORAGE. 

In this country, where for six months in the year the ground is 
frozen from surface to bed rock — 10, 20, 30, and in many places more 
than 200 feet below — and the streams are closed by ice, it is perhaps 
more practical to use the daily flow of a stream during the open season 
than to attempt to conserve any excessive run-off; but continuous 
records may develop the fact that storage reservoirs are necessary 
from a commercial standpoint, notwithstanding the obvious difficul- 
ties connected with their construction and maintenance. 



132 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Computations have been made of the amounts of storage that 
would have been necessary to maintain discharges of 75, 100, and 125 
second-feet in a ditch diverting water from Chatanika River near 
Faith Creek. These are given in the following table, together with 
the number of days of deficient flow for the different capacities: 

Storage table for Chatanika River near Faith Creek, 1907. 



Capacity 
of ditch. 


Days of 

deficient 

flow. 


Net storage required. 


Sec.-ft. 
75 
100 
125 


40 
56 
63 


Sec.-ft. for 

1 day. 

795 

2,100 

3,100 


Acre-ft. 
1,570 
4,158 
6,138 



This table covers the period from June 16 to September 1. During 
this time there were days when the discharge of the streams exceeded 
the capacity of the proposed ditches. This excess would have been 
stored in the reservoirs. The periods of deficient flow for the differ- 
ent ditches occurred as follows: For a capacity of 75 second-feet, 
from June 20 to July 17 and from August 11 to 12; for a capacity of 
100 second-feet, June 18 to August 1 and August 12 to 21; for a 
capacity of 125 second-feet, from June 15 to August 6 and August 
9 to 24. 

It would have been necessary to conserve the entire amount of 
flow for the larger ditch previous to June 15 and 90 per cent of the 
storage for the 100-second-feet ditch previous to June 15. After 
July 30 the daily discharge of the streams would have taken care of 
the smaller ditch. 

For the satisfactory development of water supply for either ditch 
lines or power purposes it is necessary to have a thorough knowledge 
of the flow of the streams from which the projects are to receive their 
supply and an understanding of the conditions affecting that flow. 
The success of any such project is measured largely by the informa- 
tion which enables the engineer to design his work in accordance 
with the maximum efficiency of the available water supply, and this 
can be determined with greater accuracy by the aid of long-continued 
records. 

In some of the older mining camps of Alaska the results of failure 
to investigate the water supply and the necessity for its use before 
constructing a ditch line can be seen in the almost dry ditch bottoms 
at times of greatest demand for water and the lack of productive 
ground on which to use the supply when it is obtainable. 

If the work set forth in the foregoing pages aids in developing the 
water supply in the Fairbanks district and points out to the prospector 
and engineer the value of first investigating the water supply and its 
use before building a ditch, this report, in a measure, will have served 
its purpose. 



METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS. 

By Fred F. Henshaw and 0. C. Covert. 
INTRODUCTION. 

The United States is divided by the Appalachian and Rocky 
Mountain systems into three distinct geographic provinces. Rain- 
fall records show that the precipitation is greatest on the slopes 
toward the coast lines, and also that it is heaviest on the higher 
slope. Brooks a shows that similar geographic divisions are present 
in Alaska, except that the general direction is east and west, instead 
of north and south as in the States, the highest range lying to the 
south. \ 

Abbe & in his report on climatic conditions in Alaska shows clearly 
that the heaviest precipitation occurs on the southern coastal slope. 
Abbe's tables also show a marked difference between the rainfall of 
the coast and that of the interior. The southern portion of Alaska 
is characterized by its dense forests, steeply graded but small drain- 
age areas, and heavy precipitation. In contrast to these conditions 
the interior has larger drainage basins, more numerous flat and broad 
areas, less timber, and less precipitation. In Seward Peninsula the 
country is characterized by barren conditions, gradual slope to one 
minor mountain range, and a comparatively medium rainfall, with 
considerable local variation. 

One of the important facts brought out by the stream-gaging work 
in Alaska during the last two years is the direct relation existing 
between rainfall and run-off during the open season. This is graph- 
ically illustrated by figs. 1 and 2 in this report. 

It will be seen from a study of the foregoing pages that the maxi- 
mum discharge of streams usually occurs in May and June, that the 
minimum flow comes in July and the early part of August, and that 
during the latter part of August and September the discharge fluctu- 
ates, but in the aggregate increases up to the freeze-up, which occurs 
in October. A study of the available rainfall records shows that this 
distribution of flow is the direct result of climatic conditions. The 
winter is a season of slight precipitation. This comes in the form of 
snow, which accumulates up to about the middle of April, when the 
increasing sunshine has its effect and the general break-up begins. 



a Brooks, A. H., Geography and geology of Alaska; Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 45, 1906, PL II. 
& Abbe, Cleveland, jr., Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 45, 1906, pp. 189-200. 

133 



134 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

The discharge resulting from the break-up reaches its maximum in 
May. April, June, and July are usually the months of least pre- 
cipitation. After the high water caused by the spring break-up has 
disappeared, there is little additional supply to the streams, owing 
to the frozen condition of the ground and the slight rainfall. Conse- 
quently the streams rapidly reach a point of low discharge. The 
rainfall records also show that during August and September there 
is a gradual increase in the amount of precipitation. This, together 
with the effect of temperature on the frozen ground, is the primary 
cause of the increased flow of streams at this period. 

All of this information has an important bearing on the develop- 
ment of the country. Mention has been made elsewhere in this 
report of the importance of an adequate water supply in the develop- 
ment of placer mines, but placer mining is not the only natural 
resource of Alaska which affords promising fields for development. 
Notwithstanding the fact that in the interior the ground is frozen the 
greater part of the year, during the summer, when it is thawed to a 
slight depth, the soil produces a luxuriant growth of vegetation, 
particularly in the lower Tanana basin. It is possible to raise many 
kinds of vegetables and small fruits, as well as hay and grain, and 
already agricultural pursuits -are being followed more or less near 
the large towns. With the high prices for vegetables and general 
produce, the truck gardener in 1906 and 1907 found this occupation 
almost as lucrative as mining. It is obvious that in the agricultural 
development of any portion of this country it is important to know 
the length of the growing season, the amount of precipitation, and 
the number of sunshiny days which may be expected. 

As meteorological records play so important a part in the develop- 
ment of Alaska, it is gratifying to note the number of places at which 
they are kept. The importance of the continuity of these records can 
not be too strongly impressed on the observers. For a number of 
years the Weather Bureau and the Signal Corps of the Army have 
kept records which cover most of the country in a general way. 

During 1906 and 1907 the Geological Survey collected a consider- 
able amount of climatological data in the Nome and Kougarok regions 
of Seward Peninsula and in the Fairbanks district. The daily records 
for these stations and the monthly summaries for all stations since 
1902 are given in the following pages. All records up to 1902 are 
taken from Abbe's report, to which previous reference has been made. 

SEWARD PENINSULA. 

When stream-gaging work was begun in Seward Peninsula in the 
spring of 1906, it was thought advisable to obtain records of rainfall at 
several points distributed so as to cover in a general way the whole of 
the peninsula. Four rain gages were installed, the stations selected 



METEOKOLOGICAL EECORDS SEWARD PENINSULA, 



135 



being Nome, on the southern coast ; Salmon Lake, about 40 miles inland 
and south of Kigluaik Mountains; claim 15, Ophir Creek, near Council 
in the eastern portion of the peninsula; and Deering, on the coast of 
Kotzebue Sound to the north. No records were obtained from Deer- 
ing, and therefore all the data procured here were for the area south 
of the mountains, where there are no striking differences in climate. 
In 1907 the scope of the observations was broadened, and an attempt 
was made to establish a line of rainfall stations from coast to coast of 
the peninsula across the Kigluaik Mountains. Additional rain gages 
were installed at Black Point, near the head of Nome River; at the 
forks of Grand Central River, in the heart of the mountains ; and at 
Shelton and Taylor, north of the mountains. No records were ob- 
tained on the northern coast. The location of these stations is shown 
on Pis. IV, VII, and XII, and other information in regard to them is 
given in the following table : 

Seward Peninsula rainfall stations. 





Letter 

on Pis. 

IV, VII, 

and XII. 


Latitude. 


Longi- 
tude. 


Elevation. 


Observer. 


Date 
established. 


Station. 


Above 
sea level. 


Above 
ground. 


Nome 


A 
B 

C 
D 
E 
F 
G 


64° 30' 
64° 54' 

64° 59' 
64° 51' 
64° 58' 
65° 13' 
65° 42' 


165° 24' 
164° 56' 

163° 39' 
165° 16' 
165° 14' 
164° 48' 
164° 48' 


Feet. 
40 
445 

200 
575 
690 
60 
550 


Feet. 
20 
2 

2 
2 
2 
2 
2 


Arthur Gibson 

J. P. Samuelsonand 
M. Donworth. 

C Arnold 

F. F.Miller 

Cornelus Edmunds 

Lars Gunderson 

A. E. Edgtvet...... 


June 14,1906 


Salmon Lake. . . 
Ophir 


June 26,1906 
July 1, 1906 


Black Point 

Grand Central 

Shelton 

Taylor 


June 23, 1907 
July 10,1907 
July 12,1907 
Juiy 18,1907 



The records for 1907 show a striking difference between the Kigluaik 
region and the country south of the mountains. The totals for the 
three months July to September at Shelton and Taylor are only 2.51 
and 2.79 inches, respectively. These are less than one-half the total 
at Nome, about one-third that at Black Point and Salmon Lake, and 
only one-sixth the amount at Grand Central. This deficiency is 
probably due to .the fact that the heaviest rains are accompanied by 
southerly winds which loose most of their moisture by the time they 
have passed the mountains. The largest percentage of rain accom- 
panied by winds from the south was 76 per cent at Black Point ; the 
smallest, 35 per cent at Taylor. The whole region is subject to 
local showers, many of which are heavy in one valley and not felt in 
the next. The rain from a general storm is often very unequally 
distributed . 

The following statement gives briefly the climatic conditions exist- 
ing in this area during the years 1899-1907: 

1899. July, four rainy days; August, fourteen rainy days; September, fourteen 
rainy days; recorded at Teller. 

1900. June and July, warm and dry, tundra fires common; August to end of Septem- 
ber, rain. 

1901. June to August, inclusive, cold and foggy with some rain; September and 
October, usually clear and cold with one or two hard rains of a few days' duration. 



136 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



1902. June, dry; July, ten rainy days; August, six rainy days; September, three 
rainy days; recorded at Teller. 

1903. Summer warm; little rain, but considerable fog. 

1904. June, dry; rainy days as follows: Ten in July, ten in August, ten in Septem- 
ber; temperature moderate. 

1905. Very wet and cold the whole season. 

1906. Very warm and dry; tundra fires common; maximum temperature 85°. 

1907. A heavy snowfall and a late spring; rainfall not excessive, but water supply of 
Nome region good on account of its even distribution throughout the season. 

The records of rainfall, snowfall, temperature, and other weather 
elements observed in Seward Peninsula are given below: 

Monthly rainfall, in inches, in Seward Peninsula, 1906-7. 



Station. 



Nome. 
Salmon Lake. 
Ophir 



1906. 



1907. 

Nome 

Black point 

Salmon Lake 

Grand Central. .. 

Shelton 

Taylor 



June. 



Trace. 
Trace. 
Trace. 



1.31 
2.62 
2.31 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 



July. 



2.38 
4.92 
3.57 



2.08 
1.94 
1.79 
3.61 
.71 
.66 



August. 



2.50 
3.33 
1.91 



2.68 
2.85 
3.65 
7.19 
1.33 



Septem- 
ber. 



1.02 
3.26 

(a) 



1.41 
3.26 
2.26 
5.06 
.47 
1.17 



Total, 
June to 
August. 



4.88 
8.25 
5.48 



6.07 
7.41 

7.75 



Total, 
June to 
Septem- 
ber. 



5.90 
11.51 



7.48 
10.67 
10.01 



Total, 
July to 
Septem- 
ber. 



5.90 
11.51 



6.17 
8.05 
7.70 
15.86 
2.51 
2.79 



a No record. 
Daily rainfall, in inches, at stations near Nome, 1906. 



• 


July. 


August. 


September. 


Day. 


Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Ophir. 


Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Ophir. 


Nome. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


1 
















0.14 


2 












Trace. 


0.04 




3 




0.12 
.35 
.35 
.10 
.17 

2.32 
.31 
.25 










4 








0.17 
.07 
.23 

.28 

% 


0.01 
.05 
.03 






5 






0.07 






6 




0.02 
.23 

1.30 
.19 








O0.52 
.37 
.92 
.14 


6.41 






8.. 






.01 


9 


Trace. 


.29 


.08 
.12 
.01 






10 






11 


.85 
.01 
.02 
.01 
.02 
.02 










12 


.04 






.10 






13 








.12 
.01 




14 




.35 








.03 


15 












16 
















17... 








.10 




.14 
.16 


.01 


18... 






.01 






.28 


19... 










.31 


.23 


1.06 


20 










.57 


.31 .28 


.99 


21 




.25 


.01 
.01 
.60 
.25 
.01 


.80 




.04 


.55 


22 






. 


.16 


23 


.08 
.27 
.04 




.22 


.50 


.22 . 


.03 


24 


.35 




25 


.04 
.37 
.30 
.14 
.15 


.01 

.78 
.23 


.05 
.40 
.32 






26 








27 






.01 






28 










29 
















30 
















31 






































2.38 


4.92 


3.57 


2.50 


3.33 


1.91 


1.02 


3. 26 



"Total, July 1-7. & Total, Aug. 0-7. 

Note.— During June there was no measurable precipitation at any of the stations. 



METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SEWARD PENINSULA. 



137 





Daily rainfall 


and snowfall, in inches, at Nome, 1906-7. 






Day. 


Octo- 
ber. 


No- 
vember. 


December. 


January. 


February. 


Marcb. 


April. 


May. 




Rain. « 


Rain.a 


Rain. 


Snow. 


Rain. 


Snow. 


Rain. 


Snow. 


Rain. 


Snow. 


Rain. 


Rain. 


1 




0.20 
.12 






















2 








0.13 


1.2 














3 












0.52 


4.2 




0.05 


4 










.40 


3.6 






.03 


5 


0.14 












.13 


1.1 




.39 


6 








.95 


6.0 






.08 


7 






0.17 


2.0 






.36 


3.0 




.12 


8 
















9 


.13 
























10 








.23 


1.6 






.87 


7.5 






11 


















12 


























13 










.07 
.26 
.28 


.5 
5.3 
4.0 














14 


.09 


















.09 


15 


















.04 


16 






















17 


















.57 
.09 


5.5 
1.0 






18 






















19... 






















20 










.32 


3.0 




































22 


















































.04 


24 






.74 
.24 
.08 


5.5 
2.8 
1.0 






0.56 
.30 
.41 
.04 
.15 


4.5 
3.0 
3.6 
.5 
2.3 


.75 

.08 


5.7 

\ .8 


0.03 

.07 


.04 


25 










.24 


26 


.23 
























28 


















29 .. 






.38 


5.0 














30 




























.30 


4.5 










































.93 


.32 


1.91 


20.8 


2.64 


25.2 


1.46 


13.9 


3.37 


28.8 


.10 


1.12 



Most ofthe precipitation in October and November was in the form of snow; snowfall not measured. 
Daily rainfall, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1907. 





June. 


July. 


August. 


Day. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salm- 
on 
Lake. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salm- 
on 
Lake. 


Grand 
Central. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Tay- 
lor. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


1 


























2 






















0.17 
.02 
.01 




3.. 
























4 
























5 








0.03 
.48 
.30 
.01 


0.12 
.35 
.13 
.14 


6^54" 

"."io" 


. a 0.12 

a. 88 
a. 14 
a. 24 










6 


0.05 
.08 


a 6. 07 
a. 11 














7 












8 












9 


















10 












.10 
.12 

"".'io' 

.10 














11 








.03 

.02 

• .07 

.01 


.02 
.05 
.07 
.04 
.02 
.07 


6.12 
6. 16 
6.07 
6.13 
6.11 
6.07 












12 








Tr. 






.09 
.04 
.10 
.56 
.50 
.15 
.02 




13 










0.19 
.11 
.04 
.38 
.07 
.01 
.05 
.22 
.06 


0.40 


14 








.01 
.01 
.01 






15 










16 




a. 26 
a. 06 
a. 56 
a. 21 
a. 34 


c0. 46 


.05 


.39 


17 


.08 
.31 
.06 
.21 


.65 


18 


.63 
.32 
.36 


.20 
.06 
.05 
.04 


.12 
.04 
.16 
.28 


"".'26' 

.26 


6.12 
6.04 
6.40 

6.58 






.40 


19 








20 


".'06* 


.14 
Tr. 
Tr. 
.29 
.08 

' Tr.' 


.15 
.06 


.32 


21 


d7 


22 










23 


.02 
.03 
.20 
.27 


.02 
.08 
.22 
.69 


*"".'20" 
.34 


.22 
.47 
.04 


.16 


"".'is' 


6.18 
6.17 


.05 
.53 
.04 


.01 
.11 
.02 
1.02 
.20 
.07 
.05 
.07 






24 


.22 
.03 
.30 
.22 
.06 
.05 
.10 


.10 


25 




26 








.65 


27 












.15 


28 






















29 




















.30 


30 










.17 


------ 


.08 




.12 
.03 


.12 


31 






































1.31 


2.62 


2.31 


2.08 


1.94 


1.79 


3.61 


.71 


.66 


2.68 


2.85 


3. 65 



a Estimated by comparison of stations. 

6 July 10 to 16 total was 0.66; July 17 to 25 total was 1.49; these were distributed in proportion to rain- 
fall at Black Point and Salmon Lake, 
c Total June 1 to 16. 



138 WATEK SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Daily rainfall, in inches, at stations in Seward Peninsula, 1907 — Continued. 





August— Continued. 


September. 


Octo- 
ber. 


Novem- 
ber. 


Day. 


Grand 
Cen- 
tral. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Taylor. 


Nome. 


Black 
Point. 


Salmon 
Lake. 


Grand 
Cen- 
tral. 


Shel- 
ton. 


Taylor. 


Nome. 


Nome. 


] 










0.10 




0.05 


0.01 


0.03 
.01 
Tr. 
.33 
Tr 
.06 




0.04 


2 


0.20 
.09 
.05 


0.01 
.15 
.05 








3 


""6.'09" 


0.14 
.02 


.06 
.16 


"*6."34' 


.04 
32 

.04 

"""."67" 

.11 

1.36 

1.96 

.66 

.03 


'""."62' 

""""." 6i" 






4... 






5 




.01 


6 








,10 


------ 

.20 

.36 

1.40 

.33 

.07 


.10 

"""."16" 

.45 
.35 

.60 
.17 




7 








0.02 




8 








.07 
.17 
.61 
.08 


.01 

"""'.'26" 

.12 


.01 

.27 
.28 




9 












10 












11 


.02 
.02 
.08 
.10 


"*"."6i" 

.10 
.03 
.09 
.11 
.13 
.05 
.07 
.03 

""""."l2" 

.03 
.20 
.07 


Tr. 
Tr. 
,03 
.07 
Tr. 
Tr. 
.15 
.13 






12.. 


.01 






13... 






14 


.04 
.06 


.07 
.22 




.05 
.08 










15 




.17 
Tr 






16 


.70 
.83 
.40 
,02 






17 














01 


18 












Tr. 






19 
















20 














Tr. 






21 


.48 
.12 
.02 
.20 
.14 
.50 
.20 
.07 
1.90 
1.03 
.02 


= 22 
.01 
.01 
.07 
.02 
.08 
.03 


.03 


.04 




.03 


.06 






22 . 




.04 




23... 
















24.. . 










Tr. 




.05 
.05 




25 


.02 
'"".06 


.05 
-06 


""""."is" 


a. 05 

a. 21 




26 








27 










28 








.04 








29 


.08 


Tr. 
.05 
Tr. 


.01 














30 
















31 






































7.19 


1.33 


.96 


1.41 


3.26 


2.26 


5.06 


.47 


1.17 


.16 


.06 



Daily mean temperature {°F.) at Nome, 1906-7. 



Day. 


Dec. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July 

45. 5 
48.5 
44.5 
46.0 
49.0 
50.0" 
46.5 
46.0 
51.5 
56.5 
57.5 
49.0 
49.5 
51.0 
52.0 
51.5 
49.0 
46.5 
46.5 
49.5 
49.0 
48.5 
54.0 
53.0 
51.0 
52.0 
47.0 
46.0 
51.5 
v 56.0 
57.5 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


1. 




23.5 
29.5 
14.0 
25.5 
15. 5 
25.0 
24.5 
11.5 
-8.0 
4.0 
20.5 
25.0 
24.0 
18.5 
16.0 

- .5 

- 7.5 
-20.0 
-6.0 

11.5 
11.5 

1.5 
23.0 
21.5 
23.5 
14.0 
13.5 
10.5 

4.5 
. 5 
.0 


8.5 
-1.0 
-5.5 
-2.0 
-11.5 
-13.5 
-1.5 
-10.0 
- 15. 
-13.0 
-14.0 
-25.0 
-20.5 
-19.5 
-27.5 
-22.0 
-18.5 
-22.5 
- 15. 5 
-22.5 
-18.0 
-6.0 
- 1.5 
12.5 
25.0 
24.5 
17.5 
6.5 


9.5 

1.5 

20.5 

24.0 

23.0 

20.5 

28.5 

26.0 

25.5 

29.5 

29.0 

21.5 

7.0 

-4.5 

-5.0 

-4.0 

15.0 

18.5 

-5.0 

-9.0 

- 15. 5 

-17.0 

-13.5 

16.0 

10.0 

-8.0 

- 10. 

-14.5 

-18.5 

-19.5 

-6.5 


-0.5 

15.0 

13.5 

12.5 

13.0 

- 0.5 

.0 

-2.0 

10.0 

3.0 

15.0 

26.0 

33.5 

29.0 

17.5 

13.5 

5.5 

7.0 

8.0 

18.5 

24.0 

26.0 

33.0 

33.0 

35.5 

37. 5 

37.0 

34.0 

36.0 

36.0 


37.5 
37.0 
40.0 
37.5 
35.5 
33.5 
38.5 
43.0 
43.5 
39.5 
26.0 
20. 5 
22.5 
28.0 
26.0 
25.5 
30.0 
31.0 
31.0 
32.0 
36.0 
37.5 
43.5 
39.0 
36.5 
34.0 
29.5 
34.5 
36.0 
40. 5 
38.5 


41.0 
45.0 
42.5 
44.0 
41.0 
46.0 
41.0 
38.0 
52.0 
50.5 
48.0 
51.0 
57. 5 
50.5 
42.0 
42.5 
43.5 
45.0 
40.0 
42.0 
45.0 
43.5 
52.5 
52. 5 
49.0 
47.0 
42.5 
41.5 
44.0 
45.5 


54.0 
54.5 
54.5 
54.0 
48.0 
44.0 
52.0 
58.0 
50.5 
50.0 
54.5 
57.5 
59.5 
56.0 
53. 5 
50.5 
48.5 
51.0 
48.5 
54.0 
53.0 
48.5 
42.0 
38. 5 
40.0 
45.5 
45.5 
44.0 
47.0 
45.5 
41.0 

49.8 


40.5 
41.0 
37.0 
41.5 
42.0 
38.5 
41.0 
44.5 
46.5 
47.5 
46.5 
42.0 
~ 39.5 
40.0 
45.5 
38.0 
39.0 
36.0 
36.5 
35. 5 
43.5 
38.0 
36.0 
37.5 
39.0 
45.5 
42.0 
45.0 
45.0 
42.0 

41.1 


40.0 
33.0 
25.5 
26.5 
25.5 
26.0 
32.5 
33.0 
24.0 
22.0 
26.0 
26.0 
19.0 
21.0 
23.0 
23.5 
26.5 
23.0 
27.0 
20.0 
27.0 
27.0 
25.0 
29.0 
34.0 
29.5 
21.5 
19.5 
9.5 
7.5 
7.0 

24.5 


11.5 


2.. 


2.0 
2.0 
-2.0 
-2.0 
5.0 
1.0 

— .5 
-5.0 

— . 5 
-3.0 

6.0 
3.5 
3.0 
17.0 
23.0 
16.5 
8.5 
3.5 

— . 5 
-4.0 

2.0 
-1.0 
10.0 
20.0 
18.0 
8.5 
7.0 
19.0 
20.0 
25. 5 


13.0 


3.. . 


3.5 


4.. 


6.0 


5... . 


8.5 


6 

7 


6.0 
2.5 


8 


-30 


9.. 


-0.5 


10 


8.5 


11.. 


18.5 


12.. . 


19.0 


13.. . 


29.5 


14 

15 


28.0 
33.5 


16 


23.0 


17 


20.0 


18 


19.5 


19 


13.5 


20 


9.5 


21 


14.0 


22 


6.5 


23 


2.5 


24... 


4.5 


25 


-3.0 


26 


-4.5 


27 

28... 


-4.5 
1.5 


29 


.5 


30. . . 


-3.5 


31 




Mean 


6.8 


11.9 


-7.6 


5.6 


19.0 


34.3 


45.5 


50.0 


9.5 



METEOROLOGICAL "RECORDS FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 

Daily barometer, in inches, at Nome, 1906-7. 



139 



Day. 



1 




2 


30.85 


3 


30.89 


4 


31.00 


5 


30.78 


6 


30.43 


7 


30.40 


8 


30.79 


9 


30.43 


10 


30.36 


11 


30.33 


12 


29.99 


13. 


30.03 


14 


30.24 


15 


3012 


16 


29.75 


17 


29.73 


18 


29.86 


19 


30.10 


20 


30.35 


21 


30.40 


22 


30.27 


23 


29.57 


24 


29.38 


25 


29.16 


26 


29.77 


27 


30.24 


28 


30.24 


29 


30.04 


30. 


29.87 


31 


29.84 


Mean . 


30.17 



Dec. 



Jan. 



29.97 
29.68 
28.95 
29.31 
29.97 
29.12 
29.89 
30.43 
31.08 
30.81 
30.60 
30.47 
30.40 
30.37 
30.20 
30.28 
30.51 
30.32 
29.98 
29.26 
29.97 
29.84 
30.56 
30.73 
30.78 
30.74 
30.72 
30.72 
30.61 
30.48 
30.62 



30.24 



Feb. 



30.64 
30.64 
30.58 
30.50 
30.24 
30.05 
29.96 
30.23 
30.22 
30.03 
29.90 
29.79 
29.49 
29.60 
29.79 
30.20 
30.18 
30.39 
30.37 
30.43 
30.27 
29.95 
29.92 
29.29 
29.07 
29.21 
29.58 
30.02 



Mar. 



30.04 
29.67 
29.46 
29.66 
29.38 
30.04 
29.69 
30.21 
30.26 
29.59 
29.87 
30.15 
30.65 
30.50 
30.35 
30.14 
29.14 
29.46 
29.96 
29.80 
30.13 
30.54 
30.10 
29.10 
29.74 
30.39 
30.44 
30.66 
30.72 
30.32 
30.26 



30.01 



Apr. 



30.12 
30.22 
29.77 
29.60 
29.70 
29.82 
29.93 
29.86 
29.85 
30.05 
29.93 
29.75 
29.75 
29.85 
30.03 
30.27 
30.48 
30.36 
30.00 
30.06 
30.42 
30.33 
30.17 
29.96 
29.91 
29.73 
29.95 
30.06 
30.28 
30.00 



30.01 



May. 



30.10 
30.25 
30.18 
29.77 
29.75 
30.00 
29.87 
29.80 
29.78 
29.68 
29.70 
29.72 
29.83 
29.82 
30.16 
30.40 
30.51 
30.50 
30.37 
30.32 
30.12 
30.08 
30.00 
29.93 
30.00 
30.08 
30.10 
30.20 
30.11 
29.91 
29.80 



30.03 



June. 



29.92 
29.83 
29.75 
29.75 
29.87 
29.81 
29.85 
29.82 
29.82 
29.73 
29.75 
29.86 
30.00 
29.86 
29.88 
29.99 
29.93 
29.66 
30.12 
29.96 
29.82 
29.86 
29.64 
29.90 
29.83 
30.00 
30.28 
30.29 
30.22 
30.18 



July. 



30.00 
30.00 
29.85 
29.71 
29.71 
29.66 
29.94 
30.02 
29.76 
29.85 
29.79 
30.21 
30.18 
30.10 
29.80 
29.90 
29.94 
29.90 
29.91 
29.55 
29.67 
29.80 
29.83 
29.83 
29.90 
29.90 
29.87 
29.96 
30.00 
29.96 
29.75 



29. 



Aug. 



29.84 
29.68 
29.74 
29.88 
30.04 
30.14 
29.95 
30.00 
29.97 
29.85 
29.86 
29.84 
29.72 
29.89 
29.98 
29.74 
29.68 
29.76 
29.66 
29.22 
29.32 
29.58 
29.77 
29.66 
29.79 
29.67 
29.81 
29.64 
29.70 
29.23 
29.59 



29.75 



Sept. 



29.83 
29.93 
29.90 
29.90 
29.95 
29.88 
29.77 
30.17 
30.29 
29.95 
29.95 
30.44 
30.32 
30.09 
30.11 
30.10 
29.97 
29.90 
29.78 
29.20 
29.15 
29.68 
29.94 
29.93 
29.49 
29. 55 
29.42 
29.28 
29.56 
29.70 



Oct. 



29.40 
29.44 
29.45 
29.55 
29.76 
29.77 
29.67 
29.69 
30.04 
29.95 
29.92 
30.05 
30.15 
30.20 
30.16 
30.06 
29.89 
29.77 
29.35 
29.20 
29.27 
29.68 
29.74 
29.44 
29.44 
29.48 
29.76 
29.78 
29.77 
30.00 
30.15 

29.74 



Nov. 



29.93 
29.75 
29.74 
29.76 
29.63 
29.42 
29.78 
30.03 
29.87 
29.98 
30.32 
29.98 
29.66 
29.57 
29.40 
29.56 
29.30 
29.31 
29.48 
29.34 
29.35 
29.27 
29.45 
29.64 
29.68 
29.78 
29.60 
29.42 
29.75 
29.87 



29.65 



Summary of meteorological observations at Nome, December, 1906, to November, 1907. 

Total precipitation, rain, and melted snow inches. . 18. 30 

Total snowfall do 91. 9 

Maximum temperature ° F. . 69 

Minimum temperature ° F. . —32 

Mean daily maximum temperature :° F. . 30. 7 

Mean daily minimum temperature ° F. . 17. 7 

Mean of means of maximum and minimum temperature ° F. . 24. 2 

Mean barometer : inches. . 29. 92 

Number of clear days 152 

Number of partly cloudy days 50 

Number of cloudy days 163 



FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 

In connection with the stream-flow investigations begun in the Fair- 
banks district in 1907, it was considered advisable to establish a few 
rainfall stations at different places in the territory covered. Four 
rain gages were installed at the places listed in the following table. 
All records are kept by voluntary observers. 



140 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907, 



Rainfall stations near Fairbanks. 





Letter 

on Pis. 

IX and 

XII. 


Lati- 
tude. 


Longi- 
tude. 


Elevation. 


Observer. 


Date 
estab- 
lished. 


Station. 


Above 

sea 
level. a 


Above 
ground. 


Summit Road 

House. 
Cleary 


G 

H 
K 
L 


65° 02' 

65° 05' 
65° 08' 
65° 17' 

i 


147° 26' 

147° 26' 
147° 28' 
146° 23' 


Feet. 
2,310 

1,000 

750 

1,400 


Feet. 
3 

4 
5 

4 


Mrs. Annie M. Walsh 


July 3. 


Poker Creek... 


G. M. Sabean 


Aug. .3. 
July 1. 


Faith Creek . . . 


M. T. Kerrick 









a Approximate. 

The records kept at these stations, together with those being 
obtained by the United States Weather Bureau at Fairbanks, Cen- 
tral, and Circle, give a general idea of the rainfall distribution from 
Fairbanks on the Tanana to Circle on the Yukon, 150 miles to the 
northwest. 

Mean monthly precipitation at stations in Yukon- Tanana region, 1902-1907. 



Station. 


pi 


■8 


u 
o3 


u 
ft 
< 


(A 

oS 


p 


D 


< 


ft 

02 


O 


> 
o 


ft 




Length 

of 
record. 


Central 

Circle 

Fairbanks 

Fort Egbart 

Fort Gibbon.... 

Kechumstuk 

North Fork 




0.80 
1.05 
1.99 
1.01 
.54 
.46 
.70 
.90 
1.01 


0.24 
.29 
.58 
.39 
.49 
.11 
.39 
.26 
.67 


1.31 
.52 
.93 

1.37 
.46 
.12 
.18 
.67 
.46 


0.70 
.67 
.11 
.18 
.10 
.22 
.40 
.03 
,54 


0.73 
.83 
.36 
.66 
.50 
1.24 
1.66 
.42 
.97 


3.56 
.54 
1.26 
1.23 
.74 
1.51 
2.33 
1.04 
.86 


3.11 
1.77 
2.16 
1.98 
2.80 
1.87 
2.13 
2.04 
1.85 


1.85 
2.33 
1.98 
1.73 
3.04 
1.77 
2.04 
2.66 
1.77 


0.52 
1.69 
1.56 
1.95 
1.05 
1.20 
1.52 
1.60 
1.82 


0.70 

1.15 

1.37 

1.93 

.85 

.62 

.42 

.82 

1.60 


0.80 
.30 
.92 
.72 
.52 
.22 
.52 
1.19 
1.12 


0.35 
.51 
.88 
.38 
.50 
.21 
.29 
.33 

1.10 


14.67 
11.65 
14.10 
13.53 
11.59 
9.55 
12.58 
11.96 
13.77 


Yrs. 

1 
1 
1 

i 

2 

1 
1 

5 


Mos. 
7 

22 
18 
37 
33 
18 
13 


Rampart 

Dawson 




17 
18 







Note.— Values for the different months are averages of all observations for that month. In the 
column headed "Year" is given the total of these averages. Amounts given for the winter months, 
October to March, represent melted snow, and as a rule are taken as one-tenth of the snowfall. 

Purington a publishes a summary of the rainfall data previous to 
1903 as compiled by Cleveland Abbe, jr. These tables show not 
only the marked variation in rainfall along the coast, but the varia- 
tions between the rainfall of the coast and that of the interior. 

A record for thirteen years and eleven months at Juneau shows a 
yearly average of 93.1 inches, and one for fifty- two months at Eagle 
gives an average of 11.4 inches. A similar table compiled from 
records obtained subsequent to 1902, at stations in the interior, gives 
a range from 9.55 inches at Kechumstuk to 14.67 inches at Central. 
This table also shows that the heaviest precipitation occurs during the 
period from June to September, inclusive, and that the months of 
April and May are usually months of least precipitation. For the 
source of the data in this table see pages 142 to 149, inclusive, in this 
report. 

The following tables show the daily and monthly rainfall at stations 
near Fairbanks: 



a Purington, C. W., Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska: Bull. U. S. Geol. Sur- 
vey No. 263, 1905, page 48. 



METEOEOLOGICAL RECORDS FAIRBANKS DISTRICT. 



141 





Daily rainfall, in inches 


, at stations near Fairbanks, 


1907. 








Janu- 
ary. 


Febru- 
ary. 


March. 


April. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Day. 


Fairbanks. 


Fair- 
banks. 


Cleary. 


Fair- 
banks. 


Sum- 
mit 
Road 
House. 


Cleary. 


Faith 
Creek. 


1 


0.05 
.22 
.16 
.35 
.35 
.04 




1 












2 




0.05 










0.02 


3 








0.04 ; 


0.09 




4 


'"6." 03" 


.04 










5 






0.15 
.09 
.11 
.07 






.04 


6 


I 








0.30 
' .06 






7 








.35 
.01 


.30 
.09 


.14 


8 


.36 
.75 
.20 








9 




.04 




0.15 




10 


.15 
.05 






.50 
.12 
.22 


.47 
.09 
.32 


.03 


11 


.16 
.04 
.07 
.17 
.21 
.07 
.03 


.17 
.40 
.17 
.05 








.02 
.05 


.14 


12 










13 







.06 






.03 


14 


(a) 
.20 
.30 
.05 








.30 
.05 
.24 
.03 
.24 
.13 


""'.19 

.20 
.01 
.15 


.05 


15 .. 


0.03 




.02 
.18 
.10 
.02 




.01 
.19 


.28 


16 


.11 


17 


1 




.01 


18 


.80 
.40 
.10 








.09 




19 












20 














.14 




. 13 


21 


.02 


















22 












.01 








23 


.20 
.05 




r ":;::: 








\ 






24 












.25 
.18 
.05 


.22 
.15 
.02 


.27 


.23 


25 




.20 












26 












.12 

.07 


.31 


27 












0.01 
.41 
.42 




28 




.08 






.23 
.30 






29 






.13 
.01 


'"".12 


.13 


.06 
.12 














31 




































Total . 


6 3.30 
33.0 


6.86 
8-6 


6 2.42 
24.2 


6.03 
.30 


.35 


1.47 


c.84 


1.51 


2.71 


2.55 


1.87 





















August. 


September. 


October. 


Novem- 
ber. 


Day. 


Fair- 
banks. 


Sum- 
mit 
Road 
House. 


Cleary. 


Poker 
Creek. 


Faith 
Creek. 


Fair- 
banks. 


Cleary. 


Poker 
Creek. 


Fair- 
banks. 


Poker 
Creek. 


Poker 
Creek. 


1 


0.72 
.01 


1.27 
.06 


1.17 
.12 




0.49 
.19 








0.02 






2 






Tr. 






3 ... 












4 





.09 




.20 
.03 
.11 
.15 
.15 
.10 
.02 


0.18 
' .03 


0.08 
.14 


0.10 


Tr. 
Tr. 
.10 
.20 
.05 
.09 
.23 
.50 
.25 


Tr. 

0.05 

.30 

.10 


08 






6 


.13 


.27 
.07 
.42 
.11 


.04 
.22 


0.05 
.24 








"".'is" 

.02 
.05 
.23 

.71 


.12 

.11 

.22 

-------- 

.80 


.01 
.02 
.01 
Tr. 
.63 
.88 




8 


.01 




9 


.46 
.08 


.33 
.05 


.17 
.30 
.20 
.10 


10 


10 

11 


.25 


03 


12 












13 






.01 




14 








.03 






15 


.09 








.07 
.04 


.22 
.27 


.85 



.70 
.10 


Tr. 




16 


:::::::: 




.01 
.01 
.07 




17 


...... .. 


.09 


"'.05' 








18 


m 












19 








.20 


.13 




20 L... 




.15 
.15 
.16 
.37 
.01 


.15 

"'."52" 
.23 


.40 
.13 
.27 
.15 




21 


'"".05' 


.19 
.04 
.20 
.13 
.03 


"\"i6" 

.11 

.09 
.13 


.13 
.02 
.13 
.04 
.15 


'".is 
""."is" 

.36 
.03 








22 








23 








24 


.18 

12 








25 












26 














27 1 








1 








28 




.26 
.13 


"".22" 


.02 
.15 


.09 
.54 
.13 








.30 

.47 


.20 
.15 




29 


.13 


.35 
.50 


"""39" 


.30 


.04 


30 


31 
































Total. 
Snowfall . . . 


1.81 


3.27 


2.88 


1.40 


3.00 


3.58 


3.82 


3.70 


6 2.44 
24.4 


1.70 
24.0 


. .25 
3.30 






1 i 1 ! i 





a Drifting. 



6 Taken as 10 per cent of the snowfall. 



c June 25 to 30. 



142 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



SUMMARY OF RECORDS SINCE 1902. 

All meteorological records obtained at stations in Alaska up to 1902 
have been compiled by Abbe. a The following tables complete the 
record of precipitation to 1907, inclusive. The values for 1903 to 1905 
for Weather Bureau stations have been taken from the annual report 
of the Chief of the Weather Bureau. Those for 1906 and 1907 were 
obtained from the original records through the courtesy of the Bureau 
officials. The snowfall is given only for 1906 and 1907. For these 
years the amount of rainfall and melted snow is given in the first line 
and the snowfall in the second line. 

Most of the amounts given for the winter season in the previous 
years represent melted snow, and many of them have been taken as 
one-tenth of the observed snowfall. The water equivalent of snow- 
fall varies considerably, and in general is probably somewhat less than 
this proportion in Alaska. In many parts of Alaska the snowfall is 
accompanied by wind and piles up in the form of drifts in sheltered 
places. This renders the accurate measurement of the quantity of 
snow very difficult, and many of these records can therefore be re- 
garded as only approximate. The locations of all rainfall stations 
are given on PL XII. 

Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska.b 

D. BLACK POINT. 



1904. 
1905. 

1906. 
1907. 











[Latitude, 64° 51'; 


longitude, 165° 16'.] 










Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 


1907 . 












2.62 


1.94 


2.85 


3.26 






























1. CENTRAL. 
[Latitude, 65° 33'; longitude, 145° 49'.] 


1906. 


f 0.56 
1 6.1 
f 1.04 

tio.o 


0.06 
1.0 
.42 
4.0 


0.05 
1.4 
2.57 
24.0 


0.47 
4.7 
.93 
8.0 


0.86 

2.0 

.57 

1.5 


4.91 


4.82 


1.85 


0.52 


0.70 
7.0 


0.80 
8.0 


0.35 
4.0 


15.95 
34.2 




2.21 


1.40 








1907 
































H. CLEARY. 
• [Latitude, 65° 05'; longitude, 147° 2&.] 


1907 






1 




2.55 


2.88 


3.82 
















1 












2. CHISTOCHINA. 
[Latitude, 62° 36'; longitude, 144° 44'.] 



0.05 
f .26 
i 2. 5 

/ 2.80 
128.0 



0.02 
.60 
6.0 
' .20 
2.0 



0.08 
.30 

3.0 
.80 

8.0 



0.00 
Tr. 



0.48 
.00 



0.90 
.81 



Tr. 1. 50 



3.19 
1.78 



0.40 
3.20 
1.48 



2.21 



2.01 
3.11 



2.07 
5.0 



1.0 

1.34 

6.0 



0.03 I 

.50 ! 

5.0 I 



0.20 
.75 
1.80 
18.0 



13.49 



35.5 



a Abbe, Cleveland, jr., Prof. Paper U. S. Geol. Survey No. 45, 1906, pp. 189-200. 
V Numbers and letters refer to PI. XII. 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. X!! 




U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 



WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 218 PL. XII 




MAP OF ALASKA, SHOWING LOCATION OF RAINFALL STATIONS. 



SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SINCE 1902. 
Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 

3. CIRCLE. 

[Latitude, 65° 50'; longitude, 144° 4'.] 



143 



Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 




f 






















0.75 
9.5 

.63 
8.2 




1906 


{ 


























f i. 02 

t 8.5 


0.57 

7.8 


0.28 
3.25 


0.15 


0.29 




1.36 


2.79 


1.73 








1907 





























4. COAL HARBOR, UNGA ISLAND. 
[Latitude, 55° 20'; longitude, 160° 38'.] 



1903 

1904 

1905 


3.90 
2.00 
0.17 
/ 2.33 
t 5.8 
f 5.65 
\ 3.5 


7.32 

0.12 

9.05 

5.43 

1.9 

0.20 

1.2 


1.90 
0.66 
1.20 
6.46 
4.2 
1.43 
Tr. 


2.26 

1.89 

18.92 

• Tr." 

7.99 
12.75 


2.77 
1.83 
6.76 
3.27 
Tr. 
4.59 


2.05 
1.23 
4.44 
1.01 


3.66 
4.22 
1.75 
3.18 


3.64 
4.17 
2.20 
4.28 


5.29 
3.73 
2.95 
3.42 


2.52 
2.07 
3.03 
4.44 


2.52 
2.82 
9.25 
3.52 
7.3 


4.69 
2.00 
4.64 
2.87 
2.25 


42.52 
26.74 
64.36 






1906 






1.88 


4.71 


4.90 


5.84 


5.83 
Tr. 




1907 



























5. COPPER CENTER. 
[Latitude, 61° 58'; longitude, 145° 20'.] 



1903 
x904 
1905 

1906 
1907 



0.05 


0.06 


0.40 


Tr. 


0.60 


1.38 


0.99 


1.16 


1.34 


1.71 


0.20 


0.75 


.67 


.22 


Tr. 


0.24 


.92 


1.11 


1.80 


2.09 


.73 


.48 


.36 


.68 


.29 


1.01 


.20 


Tr. 


.48 


.50 


1.35 


.72 


1.94 


.97 


.94 


.97 


f 1.14 
117.2 


.19 


.69 


.36 


.43 


1.19 


2.14 


.69 


.37 


.84 


.99 


.35 


2.8 


9.2 


3.0 


Tr. 












8.5 


6.0 


{:::::: 


.60 


.30 




.36 


1.14 


.97 


.71 


.25 


1.35 


.80 


.35 


6.0 


3.0 














11.5 


8.0 


3.5 















8.63 
9.30 
9.37 
9.38 
46.7 



6. FAIRBANKS. 
[Latitude, 64° 50'; longitude, 147° 44'.] 



1904 






















1.10 
1.20 
12.0 
.65 
6.5 
.35 
3.5 


2.00 
0.60 
5.1 
1.15 
11.5 
.59 
5.9 






f 0.92 
19.1 
/ 1.75 
\17.5 
] 3.30 
\33.0 


0.50 
5.0 
.37 
3.7 

.86 
8.6 


0.05 

.5 

.33 

3.3 

2.42 

24.2 


0.20 

2.0 
.10 

1.0 
.03 
.30 








2.63 


0.86 






1905 










1906 


0.36 


1.05 


2.82 


1.50 


.25 


.30 
0.6 
2.44 
24.4 


10. 63 
45.1 


1907........ 


.35 


1.47 


1.51 


1.81 


3.58 


18.71 
99.9 

















L. FAITH CREEK. 

[Latitude, 65° 17'; longitude, 146° 23'.] 



1907. 



1.87 3.00 



2.97 



7. FORT EGBERT. 
[Latitude, 64° 45'; longitude, 141° 10'.] 



1903 


0.58 


0.81 


0.54 


0.12 


1.38 
.33 
.54 


0.57 

1.95 

.51 


2.40 
1.52 
2.54 


0.97 
2.72 

1.28 


2.97 

3.38 

.01 










1905 


2.96 
1.71 
4.6 
1.12 
13.0 


0.93 

.51 
8.5 

.40 
4.0 


0.68 
.07 
1.0 




1906 


f 1.45 
\ 2.0 


.14 
1.0 

.21 
2.0 


2.19 
11.0 


.00 






1907 


.25 

.15 


.40 
.55 


1.89 


1.48 


1.98 


1.45 























144 WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 

Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 

8. FORT GIBBON. 
[Latitude, 65° 12'; longitude, 152°.] 



Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 


1903 


0.37 
.08 
.37 
/ .65 
\ 6.0 
/ 1.26 
\12. 6 


0.73 
.55 
.47 
.20 

2.0 


1.14 
.35 
Tr. 
.30 

3.0 
.53 

5.0 


0.23 
.09 

' Tr." 


0.16 
.22 
.84 

1.00 


0.38 

.33 

1.50 


1.76 
1.95 
4.90 


""3.'80" 
3.02 


0.48 
.35 


0.22 
.39 


0.33 
.07 
1.10 
.99 
9.9 
• .03 
1.5 


Tr. 

0.70 

.18 

.27 
2.7 




1904 

1905 


8.88 


1906 




a. 50 
a 5.0 

1.22 
12.0 














1907........ 




.30 




2.58 


2.31 


2.32 

4.0 

























a October 7 to 31. 

9. FORT LISCUM. 

[Latitude, 61° 27' 30"; longitude, 146° 27' 34".] 



1903 
1904 
1905 

1906 
1907 



10.42 
6.80 
3.63 
fl2. 53 
[97.6 
f 1.75 
117.5 



13.60 
.52 
5.73 
1.83 
13.5 
10.14 
95.0 



4.72 
.10 

7.17 

7.54 
103.2 

6.04 
63.0 



3.87 
4.50 
2.96 
4.20 
31.6 



2.23 
.68 

7.02 

1.36 
.5 

4.05 



3.24 
2.26 
3.83 
4.01 



2.83 



4.29 
5.61 
3.49 
7.12 



11.25 



6. 44 8. 62 

12.45 7.96 

9.85 

8. 46 4. 11 



10.61 11. 



6.62 


5.62 


9.61 


9.16 


2.20 


3.99 


6.06 


10.37 


7.75 


8.61 


7.50 


6.75 


.5 


57.5 


63.5 


16.77 


7.94 


7.13 


10.4 


38.1 


51.95 



10. FORT YUKON. 
[Latitude, 66° 34'; longitude, 145° 18'.] 



1903. '. . 


0.62 
.69 


1.09 
.93 


~6.~8o' 


0.34 
3.08 


0.35 
4.60 


0.77 
2.40 






1.70 


1.30 


0.26 


0.38 




1904 


1.67 





















E. GRAND CENTRAL. 
[Latitude, 64° 58'; longitude, 165° 14'.] 



3. 61 7. 19 5. 06 



11. HOLY CROSS MISSION. 
[Latitude, 62° 16': longitude, 159° 50'.] 



1906 




0.78 
.55 
3.5 


1.26 
4.49 


0.39 


0.22 


1.52 
2.95 


1.97 
3.73 


3.22 
5.39 


2.47 
3.56 


0.11 
.38 


0.90 
.51 


1.02 






f 2.08 
115.5 




1907 



































12. JUNEAU. 
[Latitude, 58° 19'; longitude, 134° 28'.] 



1903 


11.31 


7.29 


3.09 


3.74 

7.84 

4.96 

3.03 

2.0 

3.10 


6.74 
6.50 
1.58 


1.44 
10.40 
2.96 
1.34 


2.26 
8.15 
1.93 
3.58 


5.45 
4.04 
7.85 
3.21 


6.94 
9.20 

"3*68' 










1904 


9.34 
12.74 
12.30 


8. 36 
15.49 
12.27 
7.0 
4.58 
8.5 


8.89 
10.32 
2.17 




1905 


2.83 
f 4.35 

{-.'is' 


3.08 

1.57 

'8.~88~ 


5.90 

.56 

Tr. 

2.74 








1906 






3.93 




3.40 


6.88 


17.03 


11.19 
3.0 






1907 































SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SINCE 1902. 145 
Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 

KATALLA. 

[Latitude, 60° 11'; longitude, 144° 31'.] 



Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 




f 






7.70 
2.0 


4.85 


8.29 


14.95 


11.41 


12.34 


25.62 
1.25 


12.44 


! 


1907 


{ 






15.5 






















i 



13. KENAI. 
[Latitude, 60° 32'; longitude, 151° 19'.] 



1903 . 


0.83 
.46 
.29 
f .30 
t 5.5 
f .68 
t 5.0 


2.18 
.29 
,92 
.10 
1.0 
.61 
15.5 


0.44 
.02 
.57 

1.24 
10.2 
.67 

8.8 


0.67 
.34 
.46 
.17 

3.0 
.04 

Tr. 


0.54 
Tr. 
.84 
.29 


1.16 

.87 
.84 
.57 


2.48 
2.44 
1.06 
4.41 


3.78 
3.50 
6.26 
2.95 


2.72 

4.01 

.78 

1.41 


0.77 

1.71 

2.92 

1.74 

Tr. 

1.66 

2.7 


0.78 
.48 

2.16 
.39 

7.8 


0.18 
.66 
1.41 
1.16 
10.0 


16.53 


1904 

1905 

1906 


14.78 
18.51 
14.73 
37.5 




1.24 


2.31 


5.49 




10.00 




1907 



























14. KECHUMSTUK. 
[Latitude, 64° 07'; longitude, 142° 20'.] 



1904. 
1905. 

1906. 
1907. 



0.90 
.36 

4.0 
.12 

2.0 



0.10 
.05 
.5 
.20 

3.0 



0.05 
.06 
1.0 

.27 
4.0 



0.40 
.27 
5.0 
Tr. 



1.80 
.20 



1.3C 
12.0 



0.83 
1.58 
1.61 



2.03 



2.23 

.40 

3.25 



0.94 
1.48 
2.51 



2.14 



0.64 

2.16 

.51 



.49 
2.0 



0.30 

1.18 

.31 

4.3 

.72 
9.0 



0.03 
.36 
.29 
.5 
.40 

4.0 



0.23 
.20 
.20 

3.0 



9.01 
11. 11 
18.3 



15. KILLISNOO. 
[Latitude, 57° 22'; longitude, 134° 29'.] 



1903 

1904 

1905 


4.05 
4.30 
1.90 
f 6.90 
\31.0 
J 1.40 
114.0 


2.4" 
1.25 
2.80 
2.70 
1.5 
9.55 
31.5 


0.20 

1.20 

2.60 

.90 


6.15 
1.35 
2.20 
5.15 


2.55 
1.75 

L25' 


0.75 
3.35 
1.20 
2.85 


1.15 
4.60 
1.60 
3.80 


2.30 
2.30 
4.30 
4.90 


3.10 
7.70 

"'4.' 70* 


12.45 
8.20 
4.10 
8.40 


3.65 
9.20 
8.40 
9.55 
4.0 


5.00 
8.55 
7.75 
2.50 
10.0 


43. 75 
53.75 


1906 


53.60 
46.5 


1907 


1.70 
7.0 


1.35 


1.60 


3.85 


3/05 


4.65 


6.85 


8.57 

































16. LORING (FORKNAM HATCHERY.) 
[Latitude, 55° 36'; longitude, 131° 37'.] 



1904. 
1905. 

1906. 
1907. 



5.18 
[21. 66 
[19.5 
[ .53 
115.0 



13.19 



13. 03 4. 
19.2 [24.2 



2.05 
16.53 

8.56 



7.27 
11.65 
24.52 
4.2 
7.76 



15.80 
9.46 
5.59 



4.30 



9.68 

.84 

10.09 



5.23 



7.97 
5.26 
4.99 



1.15 
12.71 
15. 21 



9.75 



20.20 
14.07 
17.28 



10.14 



26.01 
17.94 
20.49 



20.09 



31.90 
28.49 
21.57 



24.55 
1.0 



20.01 

25. 92 

8.41 

7.5 



161. 24 
164. 45 
31.2 



17. MINE HARBOR. 
[Latitude, 55° 45'; longitude, 160° 40'.] 



1903 


2.36 
3.00 


6.61 
.49 


1.00 
.29 


2.25 

1.42 


2.59 
.81 


1.01 
1.30 


2.51 

3.'. . 4.78 


5.10 


3.97 


2.60 


5.92 




1904 

















35283— irr 218—08 10 



146 



WATER SUPPLY. IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 
A. NOME. 
[Latitude, 64° 30'; longitude, 165° 24'.] 



Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 




f 










Tr. 


2.38 


2.50 


1.02 


0.93 


0.32 


1.91 
20.8 




1906 


{ 














J 2.64 
\25.2 


1.46 
13.9 


3.37 

28.8 


0.10 


1.12 


1.31 


2.08 


2.68 


1.41 


.16 


.06 




1907 





























18. NORTH FORK. 
[Latitude, 64° 30'; longitude, 142° 10'.] 



1905. 
1906. 

1907. 



1903. 
1904. 
1905. 

1906. 
1907. 



0.70 
7.0 



15.5 



0.50 
5.0 



3.0 



0.10 
1.0 
.27 
3.0 



0.80 

8.0 

Tr. 



1.34 
4.0 



2.74 
i.92" 



2.69 
i.57 



1.91 
1.01 



3.19 



72 



2.00 
5.0 



0.42 
3.2 
1.40 
12.0 



0.50 
.55 
4.5 

.20 
2.0 



0.20 
.38 
4.5 



16.74 
11.69 
8.20 
10.63 
76.0 
? 3.26 
L 3.0 



16.60 



11.56 
.94 



8.48 
100.0 



0.72 
12.51 

5.34 
39 

2.15 
25.0 



13.55 
9.10 
7.54 

17.0 



10. 



).51 



4.42 



10.75 
12.' 99 



16 67 
9.12 



17.70 
21.76 
15.57 



29.15 



13.24 
9.66 
29.64 
17.08 
3.0 
13.16 
17.0 



23.44 
19.05 
12.81 
8.56 
39.0 



12.59 
33.2 



19. NUSHAGAK. 
[Latitude, 58° 56'; longitude, 158° 24'.] 


1904. 














2.29 


4.52 


4.16 


1.66 


Tr. 


0.56 




1905 


0.20 


1.45 


0.40 


0.40 


2.51 


2.75 


3.84 


















C. OPHIR CREEK (CLAIM 15). 
[Latitude, 64° 59'; longitude, 163° 39'.] 


1906 












Tr. 


3.57 


1.91 


































20. ORCA. 
[Latitude, 60° 35'; longitude, 145° 40'.] 



21. PETERSBURG. 
[Latitude, 56° 49'; longitude, 132° 56'.] 


1904 










1 


9.20 
4.46 


2 33 
10.76 


15.33 


12.89 


13.89 






1905 








7.17 


3.03 i.95 
























22. POINT BARROW. 
[Latitude. 71° 17'; longitude, 156° 40'.] 


1903 


0.20 
Tr. 


0.10 

.37 








0.10 


0.74 


1.43 


0.09 




Tr. 


0.05 


1904 


0.40 


0.30 




1 


















1 


K. POKER CREEK. 
[Latitude, 65° 08'; longitude, 147° 28'.] 




f ... 














1.40 


3.70 


1.70 
24.0 


0.25 
3.30 






1906 


{ 
































1 









SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SINCE 1902. 



147 



Summary of records of precipitation at stations. in Alaska — Continued. 

23. RAMPART. 

[Latitude, 65° 30'; longitude, 150° 15'.] 



Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


Ju'y. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 


1905 












1.33 
.15 


1.99 
1.86 


2.19 
2.40 


1.70 
.59 


1.20 
.61 


1.43 

.95 

10.2 

.55 

6.3 


0.33 

.33 

3.5 




1906 


/ 6.63 
i 7.2 
f 1.17 
\12.0 


a 08 
2.0 
.44 
4.5 


0.17 
1.8 
1.17 
12.8 


0.04 
.5 
.02 
.25 


0.40 


8.21 
25.2 




.44 


1.64 


2.29 


3.38 


2.52 


.65 


1907 

























1907. 



B. SALMON LAKE. 
[Latitude, 64° 54'; longitude, 164° 56'.] 





f 










Tr. 


4.92 


3.33 


3.26 


0.81 


1.56 
18.0 


1 


1906 














1907 












2.31 


i. 79 


3.65 


2.26 
























1 



F. SHELTON. 
[Latitude, 65° 13'; longitude, 164° 48'.] 



0.71 1.33 0.47 



24. SITKA. 
[Latitude 57° 03'; longitude 135° 19'.] 



1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 


6.61 
10.36 

3.82 
J 7.25 
\ 8.3 
/ 2.36 
\10.0 


8.68 
.43 

4.78 
1.89 

'3.55' 

4.2 


2.57 
3.04 
4.21 
1.58 
6.0 
1.75 
10.5 


4.25 
3.39 
7.52 
10.64 


3.65 
3.80 
2.44 
3.46 


0.90 
3.22 
2.25 
3.34 


2.85 
5.95 
2.83 
7.45 


3.90 
3.74 
7.38 
4.66 


5.80 
13.27 
8.80 
5.78 


14.52 
10.38 
7.03 
15.22 


6.50 
8.78 
11.37 
15.59 


14.97 
8.13 

11.21 
6.61 
1.0 


75.20 
74.49 
73.64 
83.47 
15.3 




2.16 


3.84 


3.66 


4.66 


12.60 


15.75 


11.77 


12.13 
.70 




1907 



























25. SKAGWAY. 
[Latitude, 59° 28'; longitude, 135° 20'.] 



1903 

1904 


2.08 
1.44 


1.44 
Tr. 
1.14 
1.16 


0.43 
.33 

1.14 
.57 
Tr. 
.47 
Tr. 


0.48 
2.31 
1.27 
3.55 


1.10 
.84 

1.11 
.37 


0.56 
.97 
.10 

2.63 


0,02 

1.07 

.16 

2.11 


2.08 

.18 

2.14 

2.26 


1.41 
2.80 
2.67 
1.30 


9.99 
5.35 
2.17 

5.58 


1.60 

6.28 
3.25 
6.47 


3.35 


24.54 


1905 


2.21 
.33 
3.0 






{ 




1906 


3.0 




/ .46 
\ Tr. 


4.85 
Tr. 


1.08 


.92 






1.98 


2.47 


5.87 


4.23 
10.0 




1907 































26. SUMMIT. 
[Latitude, 62° 55'; longitude, 143° 48'.] 





1 1.19 
\11.0 
1 1.80 
U8.0 


0.46 
5.0 
.10 
2.0 


1.04 

12.0 
.70 
7.0 


1.26 
13.0 
.40 


1.02 
5.0 
.80 
4.0 


4.25 




a 0.03 


0.12 


0.07 


0.74 
14.0 


0.49 
7.0 




1906 




1907 


2.15 








1.40 
14.0 

































a August 19 to 31. 

G. SUMMIT ROADHOUSE. 

[Latitude, 65 a 02'; longitude, 147° 26' ] 



1907. 



2.71 



3.27 



148 



WATER SUPPLY IN ALASKA, 1906-1907. 



Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 

■27. SUNRISE. 

[Latitude, 60° 54'; longitude, 149° 35'.] 



Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 


1904 

1905 

1906 


1.69 
2.12 
/ 2.18 
130. 7 
/ 2.05 
17.5 


0.13 
1.93 
.29 
3.7 
1.93 
29.0 


0.28 
1.64 
3.63 
33.9 


5.08 

3.41 

1.17 

3.8 

1.41 

2.0 


1.01 
.84 
2.35 


1.36 
2.46 


1.05 
1.40 
1.84 


5.02 
4.46 
3.70 


2.33 
1.86 
1.54 


9.35 
4.36 
6.67 
5.0 
6.03 
14.2 


2.37 
9.47 
3.87 

15.0 
7.32 

31.4 


8.31 
8.48 
2.30 

25.5 
6.78 

19.7 


37.98 
40.66 
32.00 
117.6 




1.30 


.74 


4.62 


2.29 


4.45 




1907 



















28. TANANA CROSSING. 
[Latitude, 63° 24'; longitude, 143° 24'.] 



1904 




| 




0.76 
.14 




0.78 
.37 


0.89 
2.95 


1.06 


0.15 
1.40 


0.10 

( .60 


0.90 




1905 


0.24 
.30 


6. 6s 6. is 

.00 Tr. 


0.00 




1906 





























G. TAYLOR. 
[Latitude, 65° 42'; longitude, 164° 48'.] 



1907. 



0.i 



0.! 



1.17 



29. TEIKHELL. 
[Latitude, 61° 23'; longitude, 145° 18'.] 



1904 






0.05 
1.31 

1.87 
26.2 
.56 
9.0 


0.75 
.04 
.58 

5.5 
.07 
Tr. 


0.40 
Tr. 

.25 
Tr. 

.80 


0.79 
.80 
1.39 


1.53 
1.05 
2.70 


2.00 
1.02 
.72 


1.21 
1.41 
.62 
1.5 
1.20 


2.82 
1.48 
2.90 
11.0 


0.90 

4.90 

3.52 

35.8 


2.95 
2.34 
.36 
6.2 




1905 

1906 


0.98 
J 2.50 
125.0 
/ .37 
\ 4.5 


0.49 

.20 

2.0 

1.81 

21.4 


15.82 

17.61 

113. 2 




.68 


8.20 


2.00 




1907 































30. TYONEK. 
[Latitude, 61° 03'; longitude, 151° 10'.] 



1903 

1904 

1905 


1.95 
1.07 


3.91 

.26 


0.45 


1.01 


0.69 


1.59 


2.62 


5.69. 


2.76 


1.15 


0.64 


0.53 


22.99 








1.27 
1.00 






.92 
1.67 


3.19 


3.10 
1.04 
12.5 


i. 24 

1.38 
14.0 






f .65 
\16.0 
J 1.96 
\21.0 


.49 
7.0 


1.32 
26.0 

1.66 
33.0 


.77 
20.0 
.24 
2.0 


.39 


2.96 


2.95 




1906 








2.86 


6.39 


3.05 


5.76 


3.48 
4.7 




1907 



























31. UDAKTA (DUTCH HARBOR). 
[Latitude, 53° 54'; Longitude, 166° 32'.] 



1905 












4.69 
1.14 


1.73 
3.56 


3.39 
3.10 


3.46 
2.29 


5.00 
7.91 


13.78 
5.38 


8.28 
5.76 




1906 


f 3.09 

f'8.'76' 


9.46 

4.0 

2.49 


12.19 


3.07 


6.82 


63.77 
4.0 




2.93 


2.97 


5.39 


i. 27 


2.11 


3.25 




7.79 
1.0 








1907 



































32. WOODY ISLAND (KODIAK ISLAND). 
[Latitude, 57° 40'; longitude, 152° 25'.] 



1903 

1904 

1905 


4.74 
3.63 
4.80 
I 2.50 
\13.0 
f 1.00 
12.0 


8.10 

4.'96" 
8.60 

4.66" 

26.0 


0.39 
Tr. 
2.60 
3.50 
7.0 
Tr. 
Tr. 


4.61 
3.68 
1.70 
3.80 


4.92 
3.35 
2.70 
5.10^ 


7.80 
2.26 
3.10 
4.70 


4.38 
1.36 
2.10 


4.79 
4.89 

"i.*56" 


7.95 

4.63 
1.80 
6.70 


6.27 
4.84 
7.50 
5.10 
Tr. 
8.70 


3.30 

5.20 

8.00 

3.20 

3.5 

7.70 

4.5 


8.29 
3.24 
2.42 


65.54 






1906 






1907 -. 


.61 


6.30 


5.20 


3.50 


3.70 


9.00 


6.5 
5.5 


56.21 
38.0 





















SUMMARY OF METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS SINCE 1902. 



149 



Summary of records of precipitation at stations in Alaska — Continued. 

33. DAWSON.a 
[Latitude, 64° 05'; longitude, 139° 28'.] 



Year. 


Jan. 


Feb. 


Mar. 


Apr. 


May. 


June. 


July. 


Aug. 


Sept. 


Oct. 


Nov. 


Dec. 


Annual. 


1901 












0.94 
.86 
.50 

1.71 
.25 
.92 
.85 


1.32 
3.32 
1.11 
2.14 
1.93 
1.20 
1.93 


1.64 
2.38 
1.47 
1.66 
2.51 
1.46 
1.28 


1.17 
1.17 
2.41 
1.01 
3.52 
1.14 
2.34 


2.25 
.92 

1.25 
.36 

1.84 
.47 

4.09 


1.10 
1.10 
.45 
.80 
.24 
1.55 
2.60 


1.55 

.80 
.65 
1.45 
1.24 
.93 




1902 


1.73 
.50 
.82 
.23 
1.26 
1.53 


0.20 

1.35 

.32 

1.30 

.51 

.34 


"6.'60' 
.20 
.40 
.22 

.88 


0.50 
.60 
.57 
.94 
.42 
.23 


0.46 
.39 
.96 
.97 
2.00 
1.06 




1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 


13.01 
12.00 
15. 37 
12.08 









34. WHITE HORSE .a 
[Latitude, 60° 46'; longitude, 135°.] 



1905 

1906 


1.72 
.55 
.55 


0.00 
.75 
.52 


0.18 
"i."45* 


0.10 
.20 

.75 


0.15 
.07 
.27 


0.20 

1.78 
3.03 


3.30 
3.33 
5.10 


0.92 
1.39 
1.63 


2.10 
.50 

.86 


1.50 
.30 
.26 


1.20 
1.10 
.90 


0.30 
.20 


11-67 


1907 











35. ATLIN.a 
[Latitude, 59° 45'; longitude, 133° 46'.] 



1905 


















1.06 

.78 
.58 


0.48 
1.45 

.82 


1.55 

2.55 

.51 


0.76 

.88 




1906 


1.37 
="99 


0.72 
2.18 


Tr. 

.55 


6.69" 


0.25 
.34 


i.74 
.32 


1.62 
.42 


6.7i 
1.48 




1907 











a These data were furnished by the Canadian Meteorological Service. 



INDEX. 



A. Page. 

Abbe, Cleveland, jr., on climatic con- 
ditions in Alaska___ 133 

on rainfall records in Alaska 142 

Acre-foot, definition of 9 

American River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 93-94 

Arctic Creek, discharge of 90 

Arizona Creek and ditch, discharge 

of 90 

Arizona Creek ditch, description and 

discharge of 90 

Atlin, rainfall records at 149 

Aurora Creek, discharge of 64 

B. 

Bear Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 112 

Bear Creek ditch, description of 100 

Beaver Creek drainage basin, de- 
scription of 125-127 

miscellaneous measurements in 127 

Belle Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 119 

Bismarck Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 93 

Black Point, Campion ditch at__ 35-36, 70 

Miocene ditch at 26-27, 70 

rainfall records at 137, 138, 142 

Blocker and Sayle ditch, descrip- 
tion and discharge of 90 

Boston Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 118 

Boulder Creek, discharge of 92 

Brigham Creek, discharge of 127 

Brooks, A. H., on climatic provinces 

of Alaska 133 

administrative wor*k of 8 

Bryan Creek (Beaver Creek drain- 
age) above East Branch, 
discharge of 127 

Bryan Creek (Serpentine River 

drainage), discharge of 92-93 

Budd Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 93-94 

Buffalo Creek, description and dis- 
charge 22 

C. 

California Creek, discharge of 90 

Campion ditch, description of 35 

discharge of, at Black Point- 35-36, 70 



Page. 
Candle ditch, description and dis- 
charge of 100 

Canyon Creek, discharge of 58 

Caribou Creek, discharge of 120 

Cascade ditch, description and dis- 
charge of 87 

Cascade intake, Taylor Creek at, 

discharge of 85-86 

Cedric ditch, description of :__ 64 

discharge of, above penstock 65, 70 

seepage from, measurements of 65 

water available for 65 

Central, rainfall records at 140, 142 

Charity Creek above mouth of Hope 

Creek, discharge 115 

Chatanika River, description and 

discharge of 121 

discharge of, diagram showing 105 

near Faith Creek, storage table 

for 132 

near junction of Faith and Mc- 
Manus creeks, description 

and discharge of 117-118 

discharge and horsepower ta- 
ble for 118 

Chatanika River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 114-115 

stream measurements in 115-123 

Chena Slough at Fairbanks, descrip- 
tion and discharge of 118-109 

Chistochina, rainfall records at 142 

Circle, rainfall records at 140, 143 

Clara Creek, Miocene ditch at 27-28, 70 

Cleary, rainfall records at 140, 141, 142 

Cleary Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 122 

Climatic conditions on Seward Pe- 
ninsula 134-139 

Coal Harbor, Unga Island, rainfall 

records at 143 

Coarse Gold Creek, description and 

discharge of 88-89 

Kougarok River above, descrip- 
tion and discharge 82-83 

Coarse Gold ditch, description of 89 

Coffee Creek, discharge of , — 90 

Columbia Creek, discharge of 90 

Cooperation, acknowledgment of 8-9 

Copper Center, rainfall records at 143 

Copper Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 49-50 

Copper and Jett creeks, combined 

discharge of 51 

151 



152 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Copper, Nugget, and Jett creeks, wa- 
ter available from, for hy- 
draulicking placers 71, 72 

Copper Creek branch of Miocene 

ditch, discharge of 35 

Covert, C. C. ; The Fairbanks dis- 
trict ___ 101-132 

work by 8 

Covert, C. C, and Fred F. Henshaw ; 

" Introduction " to report- 7-12 
Meteorological records 133-149 

Crater Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 57 

Crater Lake, storage capacity of 52 

Crater Lake outlet, discharge of 44-45 

Cripple River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 64 

discharge measurements in 64-65 

Crooked Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 119 

Current meters, use of 11 



D. 



Dahl Creek, water available for, at 
elevation of 300 to 350 

feet 91 

Daisy Swift Creek, discharge of 64 

Data and methods, explanation of — 9-12 
David Creek, description and dis- 
charge of, at Miocene ditch 

intake 22-23 

discharge of, compared with that 
of Nome River at Miocene 

ditch intake 22-23 

David Creek ditch, description and 

discharge of__ 32-33, 70 

Dawson, rainfall records at 149 

Deep Creek, reservoir site near 115 

Dick Creek, discharge of 92-93 

Discharge measurements, methods of 

making 10-12 

Discovery Creek, discharge of 58 

Ditch and pipe lines, Nome region 72-76 

Fairbanks district 130-131 

Kougarok region 94-95 

Dolan and McFadden ditch, dis- 
charge of 90 

Dome Creek (Chatanika drainage), 
description and discharge 

of 122-123 

Dome Creek (Kruzgamepa drainage), 

discharge of 58, 59 

Dorothy Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 23 

Dorothy Creek siphon, Miocene ditch 

above 35 



East Branch Beaver Creek, above 

mouth, discharge of 127 

Eldorado Creek, discharge of 58 

Eldorado and Flambeau River drain- 
age basins, description of_ 69 



Page. 

Elliott Creek, description of 110 

discharge of, above mouth of Sor- 
rels Creek 110 

Little Chena River, above mouth 

of 109 

Equivalents, list of 10 

Eureka Creek, discharge of 90 

F. 

Fairbanks, Chena Slough at 109 

rainfall records at 140, 141, 143 

Fairbanks Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 112-113 

Fish Creek above mouth of_ 111-112 

Fairbanks district, comparative run- 
off of different areas in 128 

ditch lines in, surveys for 130-131 

gaging stations in, list of 106 

rainfall records in 139-141 

topography and drainage of 101-103 

water storage in 131-132 

water supply of, conditions af- 
fecting 103-104 

development of 1__ 129-130 

measurements of 106-128 

water-power possibilities in 131 

Fairhaven ditch, description of 99 

Fairhaven precinct, water supply 

of 99-100 

Faith Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 115 

Faith Creek Camp, rainfall records 

at 140, 141, 143 

Faith and McManus creeks, junc- 
tion of, Chatanika River 

near 117-118 

Fall Creek, discharge of 60 

Fish Creek above mouth of Fair- 
banks Creek, description 

and discharge of 111-112 

Flambeau and Eldorado River drain- 
age basins, description of_ 69 
Float measurements, methods of 

making 11 

Fort Egbert, rainfall records at 140, 143 

Fort Gibbon, rainfall records at__ 140, 144 

Fort Liscum, rainfall records at 144 

Fort Yukon, rainfall records at 144 

Fossil Creek, discharge of 127 

Fox Creek, description and discharge 

of '_ 125 

G. 

Gages, installation and use of 12 

Gaging stations, in Fairbanks dis- 
trict 106 

in Kougarok region 79 

in Nome region IS 

Glacier Creek, discharge of 60 

Snake River above 68-<»9 

Gold Run, description and discharge 

of 48 

lake at head of, storage capacity 

of 52 



INDEX. 



158 



Page. 

Gold Run, storage capacity required 
to maintain given dis- 
charges of 53 

Gold Run, Grand Central River, and 
Thompson Creek, storage 
capacity required to main- 
tain given discharges of 53 

Gold Run, Thompson Creek, and up- 
per Grand Central River, 
water available from, for 
hydraulicking placers 71, 72 

Goldstrenm Creek at claim 6 below, 
description and discharge 
of 124-125 

Coldstream Creek drainage basin, de- 
scription of 123 

Goose Creek, Noxapaga River above_ 92 

Grand Central, rainfall records at 137, 

138, 144 

Grand Central ditch, description and 

discharge of 31-32, 70 

Grand Central River, discharge of, 

below Nugget Creek 47 

discharge of, below the forks 46 

diagram showing 17 

Grand Central River drainage basin, 

description of 38 

storage posibilities in 52—53 

stream measurements in 30-52 

Grand Central River, North Pork of, 
description and .discharge 
of 38-41 

Grand Central River, Thompson 
Creek, and Gold Run, 
storage capacity required 
to maintain given dis- 
charges of 53 

Grand Central River, upper, water 
available from, for hy- 
draulicking placers 71, 72 

Grand Central River, West Pork, de- 
scription and discharge of 41—44 

Grand Union Creek, discharge of 50 

Grouse Creek branch of Miocene 

ditch, discharge of 35 



II. 



Harris Creek, discharge of 90 

Henry Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 88 

Henry Creek ditch, description of 88 

Henry and Lincoln creeks, discharge 

of ___ 88 

Henshaw, Fred F. ; The Pairhaven 

precinct 09-100 

The Kougarok region 77-98 

The Nome region 13-76 

work by 8 

Henshaw, F. F., and C. C. Covert, 

" Introduction " to report- 7-12 

Meteorological records 133-149 

Henshaw, Fred P., and J. C. Hoyt, 
on water supply of Nome 
region 15 



Page. 
Hobson Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 23-24 

discharge of, at Miocene ditch 

intake 24 

below Manila Creek and di- 
versions 24 

limestone springs in basin of 23 

Miocene ditch near 28-29, 70 

Hobson Creek branch of Pioneer 

ditch, discharge of 70 

Hobson Creek branch of Seward 

ditch, discharge of 70 

Holy Cross Mission, rainfall records 

at 144 

Homestake Creek, discharge of 90 

Homestake ditch, description and 

discharge of 80, 83-84 

Homestake ditch intake, Kougarok 

River at 80-81 

Hope Creek, discharge of, near 

mouth of Zephyr Creek 115 

Charity Creek above mouth of 115 

Hoyt, J. C, work by 8 

Hoyt, J. C, and Henshaw, Fred F., 
on water supply of Nome 

region • 15 

Hydraulic mining, methods of 14-15 



I. 



Imuruk Basin drainage, streams 

tributary to, discharge of_ 59-60 

Irene Creek, discharge of 64 

Iron Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 57-58, 59 

Iron Creek and tributaries, dis- 
charge of 58-59 

Irving ditch, description and dis- 
charge of 83 

J- 

Jessie Creek, discharge of 64 

Jett Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 50-51 

Jett and Copper creeks, combined 

discharge of 51 

Jett, Copper, and Nugget creeks, 
water available from, for 
hydraulicking placers 71, 72 

Jett Creek ditch, description and dis- 
charge of 30-31, 70 

discharge of, compared with that 
of Nome River at Miocene 
intake 51 

Josie Creek, discharge of 64 

Juneau, rainfall records at 144 

K. 

Katalla, rainfall records at 145 

Kechumstuk, rainfall records at 140, 145 

Kenai, rainfall records at 145 

Killisnoo, rainfall records at 145 

Kokomo Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 119-120 



154 



INDEX. 



Page. 
Kougarok region, gaging stations 

in 79-94 

hydraulic development in 94 

topography and drainage of 77-78 

water supply of 77-95 

conditions affecting 78-79 

Kougarok River, description and 
discharge of, above Coarse 

Gold Creek 82-83 

description and discharge of, 

ahove Taylor Creek 82 

at Homestake ditch intake 80-81 

discharge of, below Washington 

Creek 80 

Kougarok River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 79-80 

ditches in, water available for, 

in 1907 90-91 

mean weekly water supply of, in 

1907 91 

miscellaneous discharge meas- 
urements in 90 

Kruzgamepa River, discharge of, at 

Salmon Lake 55-57 

Kruzgamepa River drainage basin, 

description of 54-55 

discharge measurements in 55-59 

L. 

Lillian Creek, discharge of 88 

Limestone springs, effect of, on run- 
off 17 

Lincoln Creek, description of 88 

Lincoln and Henry creeks, discharge 

of 88 

Little Chena River, description and 
discharge of, above mouth 
of Elliott Creek _: 109 

Little Chena River and tributaries, 
discharge of, diagram 

showing 105 

discharge and horsepower table 

for 108 

Little Chena River drainage basin, 

description of 106-108 

drainage areas of 108 

Little Eldorado Creek, description 

and discharge of 122 

Little Poker Creek, discharge of 120 

Loring (Forknam hatchery), rainfall 

records at 145 

M. 

McKay Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 119 

Macklin branch of Homestake ditch, 

discharge of 90 

Macklin Creek, discharge of 90 

McManus Creek, description and dis- 
charge of : 116-117 

McManus and Faith creeks, junction 

of,Chatanika River near. 117-118 

McMonagle ditch, discharge of 90 

Meteorological records 133-149 



Page. 

Methods and data, explanation of 9-12 

Miller Creek, description and dis- 
charge of il3 

Mine Harbor, rainfall records at 145 

Miner's inch, definition of 9-10 

Miocene ditch, discharge of, above 

Dorothy Creek siphon 35 

discharge of, above and below 

Hobson Creek 28-29, 70 

above Snow Gulch 35 

below the Ex 30 ' 

at Black Point 26-27, 70 

at Clara Creek 27-28, 70 

at flume 29-30, 70 

at miscellaneous points 35 

Copper Creek branch of 35 

David Creek branch of__ 22, 70 

Grand Central branch of 70 

Grouse Creek branch of 35 

Jett Creek branch of 70 

seepage measurements on 33-34 

Miocene ditch flume, construction of, 

over glacier 74 

Miocene ditch intake, David Creek 

at 22-23 

Hobson Creek at 24 

Nome River at 17, 19-21, 51 

Nugget Creek at, discharge of 50 

Miocene ditch system, description of_ 24-26 
Morning Call Creek, description and 

discharge of 51—52 

N. 

Nome, barometric records at 139 

rainfall records at '. 136, 

137, 138, 139, 146 

snowfall at 16 

temperature records at 138 

Nome Creek (Fairbanks district), 

discharge of 127 

Nome region, climatic conditons in_ 16, 135 

ditches in, discharge of 70 

list of 75-76 

gaging stations in 18-69 

limestone springs in 17 

pipe lines and ditches in 72-76 

placer mining in 14-15 

rainfall in 15-16, 136, 138 

snowfall in 16 

topography and drainage of 13-14 

water-power possibilities in 76 

water supply of, conditions affect- 
ing 15-17 

Nome River, discharge of, above 

Miocene ditch intake 19-21 

at Miocene ditch intake, discharge 
of, compared with that 

of David Creek 22 

discharge of, compared 
with that of Jett Creek 

ditch 51 

discharge of, diagram 

showing 17 

at Pioneer intake 21-22 



INDEX. 



155 



Page. 

Nome River, water available from, 

for hydraulicking placers— 70, 72 

Nome River drainage basin, descrip- 
tion of __— 18-19 

ditches in 19, 75-76 

gaging stations in 19-37 

North Fork, rainfall records at 140, 146 

North Fork of Grand Central River. 
See Grand Central River, 
North Fork. 

North Fork [of Kougarok River], de- 
scription and discharge of _ 89 

North Star Creek, description and 

discharge of 62-63 

North Star and Windy creeks and 
Sinuk River, water avail- 
able from, for hydrau- 
licking placers 71, 72 

North Star ditch above the siphon, 
description and discharge 
of * 86 

North Star intake, Taylor Creek at__ 84-85 

Noxapaga River above Goose Creek, 

discharge of 92 

Noxapaga River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 91-92 

miscellaneous measurements in 92 

Nugget Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 49-50 

Grand Central River below 47 

Nugget, Copper, and Jett creeks, 
water available from, for 
hydraulicking placers 71, 72 

Nushagak, rainfall records at 146 

O. 

Okdurok ditch, discharge o 90 

Ophir Creek (claim 15), rainfall rec- 
ords at 136,146 

Orca, rainfall records at 146 

P. 

Pass Creek, discharge of 59 

Pedro Creek, description of 123 

Penny River at Sutton ditch intake, 

discharge 66-67 

Penny River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 66 

Petersburg, rainfall records at 146 

Pilgrim River. See Kruzgamepa. 
River. 

Pioneer ditch, description of 37 

discharge of, at Hobson Creek 

branch 70 

at Nome River intake 21-22, 70 

Pioneer ditch intake, Nome River at_ 21-22 

Pipe lines and ditches 72-75, 

94-95, 130-131 
Placer mining, in Fairbanks region. 102, 129 

in Kougarok region 94 

in Nome region 14-15, 70-72 

Point Barrow, rainfall records at 146 

Poker Creek, Chatanika River below 

mouth of , 121 



Page. 

Poker Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 120 

rainfall record at 140, 141, 146, 147 

Precipitation records in Alaska, sum- 
mary of 142-149 

Price current meter, view of, plate 

showing 10 

Purington, C. W., on rainfall data of 

Alaska 140 

Q. 

Quartz Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 93 

R. 

Rainfall records in Alaska, sum- 
mary of 142-149 

Rampart, rainfall records at 140, 147 

Reindeer Creek, discharge of 92 

Richards, Raymond, work by 8, 15 

Rock Creek, discharge of-^. 59 

Run-off in inches, definition of 9 

\ 
S. 

Salmon Lake, description of 53-54 

flow into and out of, measure- 
ments of 54 

Kruzgamepa River at, discharge 

of 55-57 

rainfall records at 16, 136, 137, 138 

storage capacity of 53-54 

Schlitz Creek, discharge of 92 

Second-feet per square mile, defini- 
tion of 9 

Second-foot, definition of 9 

Seepage, from Cedric ditch 65 

from Miocene ditch 33-34 

from Seward ditch 36 

Serpentine River drainage basin, 

measurements in 92-93 

Seward ditch, description and dis- 
charge of 36-37 

discharge of, at Nome River in- 
take 70 

Hobson Creek branch of 70 

seepage from 36 

Seward Peninsula, climatic condi- 
tions in 134-139 

relative run-off in different 

areas of 95-98 

water-supply investigations in_ 13-100 
Shelton, rainfall records at__ 137, 138, 147 
Sinuk River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 60 

discharge measurements in 60-64 

Sinuk River, upper, discharge of 60-61 

Sinuk River, Windy and North Star 
creeks, water available 
from, for hydraulicking 

placers 71, 72 

Sitka, rainfall records at 147 

Skagway, rainfall records at 147 

Slate Creek (Cripple River drain- 
age), discharge of 04 



156 



INDEX. 



Page. 
Slate Creek ( Kruzgamepa River 

drainage), discharge of_l_ 59 
Slate Creek (Sinuk River drain- 
age), description and dis- 
charge of 63 

Smith Creek, discharge of 59 

Snake River above Glacier Creek, 

discharge of 68-69 

Snake River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 68 

Snow Gulch, discharge of 60 

Solomon River drainage basin, de- 
scription of 69 

miscellaneous measurements in — 69 
Sorrels Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 110-111 

Elliott Creek above mouth of 110 

Springs, stream flow derived from — 17 
Stewart River, description and dis- 
charge of 63 

Storage possibilities, on Grand Cen- 
tral River headwaters 52-53 

Storage reservoirs, Fairbanks dis- 
trict 131KL32 

Summit, rainfall records at 147 

Summit Roadhouse, rainfall records 

at 140,141,147 

Sunrise, rainfall records at 148 

Sutton ditch at intake, discharge of_ 70 

Sutton ditch intake, Penny River 

at — 66-67 

T. 

Tanana Crossing, rainfall records at_ 148 

Taylor, rainfall records at 137, 138, 148 

Taylor Creek, description and dis- 
charge of, at North Star 

intake 84-85 

discharge of, at Cascade intake — 85-86 

at mouth 86 

Kougarok River above 82 

Teikhell, rainfall records at 148 

Thompson Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 49 

Thompson Creek, Gold Run, and 
Grand Central River, stor- 
age capacity required to 
maintain given discharges 
of 53 



Page. 

Thompson Creek, Gold Run, and up- 
per Grand Central River, 
water available from, for 
hydraulicking placers 71, 72 

Trail Creek, discharge of 127 

Turner Creek at McKay intake, dis- 
charge of 92 

Tyonek, rainfall records at 148 



U. 



Udakta (Dutch Harbor), rainfall 

records at 148 

Upper Oregon Creek, discharge of 64 



V. 



Velocity, methods of measuring 11-12 



W. 



Washington Creek, discharge of 90 

Kougarok River below, discharge 

of 80 

Water-power possibilities, in Fair- 
banks district 131 

in Nome region 76 

White Horse, rainfall records at 149 

Willow Creek, discharge of 59 

Windy Creek, description and dis- 
charge of 61-62,90 

Windy Creek ditch, discharge of 90 

Windy and North Star creeks and 
Sinuk River, water availa- 
ble from, for hydraulick- 
ing placers 71, 72 

Woody Island (Kodiak Island), rain- 
fall records at 148 



Y. 



Yukon-Tanana region, rainfall rec- 
ords in 140 

Bee also Fairbanks district. 



Z. 



Zephyr Creek, Hope Creek near 

mouth of, discharge of 115 



RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. 

[Arranged geographically. A complete list can be had on application.] 

All of these publications can be obtained or consulted in the following ways: 

1. A limited number are delivered to the Director of the Survey, from whom they 
can be obtained, free of charge (except certain maps), on application. 

2. A certain number are delivered to Senators and Representatives in Congress for 
distribution. 

3. Other copies are deposited with the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, 
D. C, from whom they can be had at prices slightly above cost. 

4. Copies of all Government publications are furnished to the principal public 
libraries throughout the United States, where they can be consulted by those interested. 

GENERAL. 

The geography and geology of Alaska, a summary of existing knowledge, by A. H. 

Brooks, with a section on climate by Cleveland Abbe, jr., and a topographic map 

and description thereof, by R. U. Goode. Professional Paper No. 45, 1906, 327 pp. 
Placer mining in Alaska in 1904, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 

18-31. 
The mining industry in 1905, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 4-9. 
The mining industry in 1906, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 19-39. 
Railway routes, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 10-17. 
Administrative report, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of 

mineral resources of Alaska in 1904: Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 13-17. 
Administrative report, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of 

mineral resources of Alaska in 1905: Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 1-3. 
Administrative report, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of 

mineral resources of Alaska in 1906: Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 11-18. 
Notes on the petroleum fields of Alaska, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, 

pp. 128-139. 
The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River 

coal deposits, by G. C. Martin. Bulletin No. 250, 1905, 64 pp. 
Markets for Alaska coal, bv G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 18-29. 
The Alaska coal fields, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 40-46. 
Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska, by C. W. Purington. Bulletin 

No. 263, 1905, 362 pp. (Out of stock; can be purchased from Superintendent of 

Documents, Washington, D. C, for 35 cents.) Abstract in Bulletin No. 259, 1905, 

pp. 32-46. 
Geographic dictionary of Alaska, by Marcus Baker, second edition by J. C. McCor- 

mick. Bulletin No. 299, 1906, 690 pp. 
Administrative report, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investigations of 

mineral resources of Alaska in 1907. Bulletin No. 345, pp. 5-17. 
The distribution of mineral resources in Alaska, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on 

progress of investigations of mineral resources of Alaska in 1907. Bulletin No. 

345, pp. 18-29. 
The mining industry in 1907, by A. H. Brooks. In Report on progress of investiga- 
tions of mineral resources of Alaska in 1907. Bulletin 345, pp. 30-53. 
Prospecting and mining gold placers in Alaska, by J. P. Hutchins. In Bulletin 

No. 345, 1908, pp. 54-77. 
Water-supply investigations in Alaska in 1906-7, by F. F. Henshawand C. C. Covert. 

Water-Supply Paper No. 218, 1908, 156 pp. 

Topographic maps. 

Alaska, topographic map of; scale, 1: 2500000. Preliminary edition by R. U. Goode. 

Contained in Professional Paper No. 45. Not published separately. 
Map of Alaska showing distribution of mineral resources; scale, 1:5000000; by A. H. 

Brooks. Contained in Bulletin 345 (in pocket). 
Map of Alaska; scale, 1:5000000; by Alfred H. Brooks. 

i 



II RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. 

In preparation. 

Methods and costs of gravel and placer mining in Alaska, by C. W. Purington. Second 
edition. 

SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA. 

Preliminary report on the Ketchikan mining district, Alaska, with an introductory 

sketch of the geology of southeastern Alaska, by Alfred H. Brooks. Professional 

Paper No. 1, 1902, 120 pr>. 
The Porcupine placer district, Alaska, by C. W. Wright. Bulletin No. 236, 1904, 35 pp. 
The Treadwell ore deposits, by A. C. Spencer. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 69-87. 
Economic developments in southeastern Alaska, by F. E. and C. W. Wright. In 

Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 47-68. 
The Juneau gold belt, Alaska, by A. C. Spencer, pp. 1-137, and A reconnaissance of 

Admiralty Island, Alaska, by C. W. Wright, pp. 138-154. Bulletin No. 287, 

1906, 161 pp. 
Lode mining in southeastern Alaska, by F. E. and C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 

284, 1906, pp. 30-53. 
Nonmetallic deposits of southeastern Alaska, by C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 284, 

1906, pp. 54-60. 
The Yakutat Bay region, by R. S. Tarr. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 61-64. 
Lode mining in southeastern Alaska, by C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, 

pp. 47-72. 
Nonmetalliferous mineral resources of southeastern Alaska, by C. W. Wright. In 

Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 73-81. 
Reconnaissance on the Pacific coast from Yakutat to Alsek River, by Eliot Black- 
welder. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 82-88. 
Lode mining in southeastern Alaska in 1907, by C. W. Wright. In Bulletin No. 345, 

1908, pp. 78-97. 
The building stones and materials of southeastern Alaska, by C. W. Wright. In 

Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 116-126. 
Copper deposits on Kasaan Peninsula. Prince of Wales Island, by C. W. Wright and 

Sidney Paige. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 98-115. 

Topographic maps. 

Juneau Special quadrangle; scale, 1: 62500; by W. J. Peters. For sale at 5 cents each 

or $3 per hundred. 
Topographic map of the Juneau gold belt, Alaska. Contained in Bulletin 287, Plate 

XXXVI, 1906. Not issued separately. 

In preparation. 

Physiography and glacial geology of the Yakutat Bay region, Alaska, by R. S. Tarr, 

with a chapter on the bed-rock geology by R. S. Tarr and B. S. Butler. 
The Ketchikan and Wrangell mining districts, Alaska, by F. E. and C. W. Wright. 
Berners Bay Special map; scale, 1:62500; by R. B. Oliver. (In press.) 
Kasaan Peninsula Special map; scale, 1: 62500; by D. C. Witherspoon and J. W. Bagley. 

CONTROLLER BAY, PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, AND COPPER RIVER 

REGIONS. 

The mineral resources of the Mount Wrangell district, Alaska, by W. 0. Mendenhall. 
Professional Paper No. 15, 1903, 71 pp. Contains general map of Prince William 
Sound and Copper River region; scale, 12 miles = 1 inch. (Out of stock; can be 
purchased from Superintendent of Documents for 30 cents.) 

Bering River coal field, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 140-150. 

Cape Yaktag placers, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 88-89. • 

Notes on the petroleum fields of Alaska, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, 
pp. 128-139. Abstract from Bulletin No. 250. 

The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River 
coal deposits, by G. 0. Martin. Bulletin No. 250, 1905, 64 pp. 

Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, by W. C. Mendenhall. Profes- 
sional Paper No. 41, 1905, 133 pp. 

Copper and other mineral resources of Prince William Sound, by II. S. Grant. In Bul- 
letin No. 284, 1906, pp. 78-87. 

Distribution and character of the Bering River coal, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 
284, 1906, pp. 65-76. 



RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. Ill 

Petroleum at Controller Bay, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 89-103. 
Geology and mineral resources of Controller Bay region, by G. C. Martin. Bulletin 

No. 335, 1908, 141 pp. 
Notes on copper prospects of Prince William Sound, by F. H. Moffit. In Bulletin 

No. 345, 1908, pp. 176-178. 
Mineral resources of the Kotsina and Chitina valleys, Copper River region, by F. H. 

Moffit and A. G. Maddren. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 127-175. 

Topographic maps. 

Map of Mount Wrangell; scale, 12 miles = 1 inch. Contained in Professional Paper 

No. 15. Not issued separately. 
Copper and upper Chistochina rivers; scale, 1: 250000; by T. G. Gerdine. Contained 

in Professional Paper No. 41. Not issued separately. 
Copper, Nabesna, and Chisana rivers, headwaters of; scale, 1:250000. D. C. Wither- 

spoon. Contained in Professional Paper No. 41. Not issued separately. 
Controller Bay region Special map; scale, 1: 62500; by E. G. Hamilton. For sale at 35 

cents a copy or $21.00 per hundred. 
General map of Alaska coast region from Yakutat Bay to Prince William Sound; scale, 

1: 1200000; compiled by G. C. Martin. Contained in Bulletin No. 335. 

In preparation. 

The Kotsina-Chitina copper region, by F. H. Moffit. 

Chitina quadrangle map; scale, 1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine and D. C. Witherspoon. 

\ 
COOK INLET AND SUSITNA REGION. 

The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River 

coal deposits, by G. C. Martin. Bulletin No. 250, 1905, 64 pp. 
Coal resources of southwestern Alaska, by R. W. Stone. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, 

pp. 151-171. 
Gold placers of Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, by F. H. Moffit. In Bulletin No. 259, 

1905, pp. 90-99. 
Mineral resources of the Kenai Peninsula; Gold fields of the Turnagain Arm region, by 

F. H. Moffit, pp. 1-52; Coal fields of the Kachemak Bay region, by R. W. Stone, 

pp. 53-73. Bulletin No. 277, 1906, 80 pp. 
Preliminary statement on the Matanuska coal field, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 

284, 1906, pp. 88-100. 
A reconnaissance of the Matanuska coal field, Alaska, in 1905, by G. C. Martin. Bulle- 
tin No. 289, 1906, 36 pp. (Out of stock; can be purchased of Superintendent of 

Documents for 25 cents.) 
Reconnaissance in the Matanuska and Talkeetna basins, by S. Paige and A. Knopf. 

In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 104-125. 
Geologic reconnaissance in the Matanuska and Talkeetna basins, Alaska, by S. Paige 

and A. Knopf. Bulletin No. 327, 1907, 71 pp. 

Topographic maps. 

Kenai Peninsula, northern portion; scale, 1:250000; by- E. G. Hamilton. Contained 
in Bulletin No. 277. Not published separately. 

Reconnaissance map of Matanuska and Talkeetna region; scale, 1:250000; by T. G. 
Gerdine and R. H. Sargent. Contained in Bulletin No. 327. Not published 
separately. 

Mount McKinley region; scale, 1:625000; by D. L. Reaburn. Contained in Profes- 
sional Paper No. 45. Not published separately. 

ALASKA PENINSULA AND ALEUTIAN ISLANDS. 

Gold mine on Unalaska Island, by A. J. Collier. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, pp. 102-103. 
Gold deposits of the Shumagin Islands, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, 

pp. 100-101. 
Notes on the petroleum fields of Alaska, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, 

pp. 128-139. Abstract from Bulletin No. 250. 
The petroleum fields of the Pacific coast of Alaska, with an account of the Bering River 

coal deposits, by G. C. Martin. In Bulletin No. 250, 1905, 64 pp. 
Coal resources of southwestern Alaska, by R. W. Stone. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, 

pp. 151-171. 
The Herendeen Bay coal field, by Sidney Paige. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 

101-108. 



IV RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. 

YUKON BASIN. 

The coal resources of the Yukon, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Bulletin No. 218, 1903, 

71pp. 
The gold placers of the Fortymile, Birch Creek, and Fairbanks regions, by L. M. Prin- 

dle. Bulletin No. 251, 1905, 89 pp. 
Yukon placer fields, by L. M. Prindle. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 109-131. 
Reconnaissance from Circle to Fort Hamlin, by R. W. Stone. In Bulletin No. 284, 

1906, pp. 128-131. 
The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; description of the Circle quadrangle, by L. M. 

Prindle. Bulletin No. 295, 1906, 27 pp. 
The Bonnifield and Kantishna regions, by L. M. Prindle. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, 

pp. 205-226. 
The Circle Precinct, Alaska, by Alfred H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 

187 F 204. 
The Yukon-Tanana region, Alaska; description of the Fairbanks and Rampart quad- 
rangles, by L. M. Prindle, F. L. Hess, and C. C. Covert. Bulletin No. 337, 1908, 

102 pp. 
Occurrence of gold in the Yukon-Tanana region, by L. M. Prindle. In Bulletin No. 

345, 1908, pp. 179-186. 
The Fortymile gold placer district, by L. M. Prindle. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, 

pp. 187-197. 
Water supply of the Fairbanks district in 1907, by C. C. Covert. In Bulletin No. 345, 

1908, pp. 198-205. 

Topographic maps. 

Fortymile quadrangle; scale, 1:250000; by E. C. Barnard. For sale at 5 cents a copy 

or $3 per hundred. 
Yukon-Tanana region, reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:625000; by T. G. Gerdine. 

Contained in Bulletin No. 251, 1905. Not published separately. 
Fairbanks and Birch Creek districts, reconnaissance maps of; scale, 1: 250000; by T. G. 

Gerdine. Contained in Bulletin No. 251, 1905. Not issued separately. 
Circle quadrangle, Yukon-Tanana region; scale, 1:250000; by D. C. Witherspoon. 

Contained in Bulletin No. 295. Not issued separately. 

In preparation. 

Water-supply investigations in Alaska, 1906 and 1907, by F. F. Henshaw and C. C. 

Covert. Water-Supply Paper No. 218, 1908, 156 pp. 
Fairbanks quadrangle map; scale, 1:250000; by D. C. Witherspoon. Contained in 

' Bulletin No. 337, 1908. 
Rampart quadrangle map; scale, 1:250000; by D. C. Witherspoon. Contained in 

Bulletin No. 337, 1908. 
Fairbanks Special map; scale, 1:62500; by T. G. Gerdine and R. H. Sargent. 

SEWARD PENINSULA. 

A reconnaissance of the Cape Nome and adjacent gold fields of Seward Peninsula, 

Alaska, in 1900, by A. H. Brooks, G. B. Richardson, and A. J. Collier. In a 

special publication entitled "Reconnaissances in the Cape Nome and Norton Bay 

regions, Alaska, in 1900," 1901, 180 pp. 
A reconnaissance in the Norton Bay region, Alaska, in 1900, by W. C. Mendenhall. 

In a special publication entitled "Reconnaissances in the Cape Nome and Norton 

Bay regions, Alaska, in 1900." 
A reconnaissance of the northwestern portion of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, by A. J. 

Collier. Professional Paper No. 2, 1902, 70 pp. 
The tin deposits of the York region, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Bulletin No. 229, 1904, 

61pp. 
Recent developments of Alaskan tin deposits, by A. J. Collier. In Bulletin No. 259, 

1905, pp. 120-127. 
The Fairhaven gold placers of Seward Peninsula, by F. H. Moffit. Bulletin No. 247, 

1905, 85 pp. 
The York tin region, by F. L. Hess. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp. 145-157. 
Gold mining on Seward Peninsula, by F. II . Moffit. In Bulletin No. 284, 1906, pp, 

132-141. 
The Kougarok region, by A. H. Brooks. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 164-181. 



RECENT SURVEY PUBLICATIONS ON ALASKA. V 

Water supply of Nome region, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 1906, by J. C. Hoyt and 

F. F. Henshaw. Water-Supply Paper No. 196, 1907, 52 pp. (Out of stock; can 

be purchased of Superintendent of Documents for 15 cents.) 
Water supply of the Nome region, Seward Peninsula, 1906, by J. C. Hoyt and F. F. 

Henshaw. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 182-186. 
The Nome region, by F. H. Moffit. In Bulletin No. 314, 1907, pp. 126-145. 
Gold fields of the Solomon and Niukluk river basins, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin 

No. 314, 1907, pp. 146-156. + 

Geology and mineral resources of Iron Creek, by P. S. Smith. In Bulletin No. 314, 

1907, pp. 157-163. 
The gold placers of parts of Seward Peninsula, Alaska, including the Nome, Council, 

Kougarok, Port Clarence, and Goodhope precincts, by A. J. Collier, F. L. Hess, 

P. S. Smith, and A. H. Brooks. Bulletin No. 328, 1908, 343 pp. 
Investigation of the mineral deposits of Seward Peninsula, by P. S. Smith. In 

Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 206-250. 
The Seward Peninsula tin deposits, by Adolph Knopf. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, 

pp. 251-267. 
Mineral deposits of the Lost River and Brooks Mountain regions, Seward Peninsula, 

by Adolph Knopf. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 268-271. 
Water supply of the Nome and Kougarok regions, Seward Peninsula, in 1906-7, by 

F. F. Henshaw. In Bulletin No. 345, 1908, pp. 272-285. 

Topographic maps. 

The following maps are for sale at 5 cents a copy, or $3 per hundred: 
Casadepaga Quadrangle, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500; by T. G. Gerdine. 
Grand Central Special, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500; by T. G-. Gerdine. 
Nome Special, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500; by T. G. Gerdine. 
Solomon Quadrangle, Seward Peninsula; scale, 1:62500; by T. G. Gerdine. 

The following maps are for sale at 25 cents a copy, or $15 per hundred: 
Seward Peninsula, northeastern portion of, topographic reconnaissance of; scale, 

1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine. 
Seward Peninsula, northwestern portion of, topographic reconnaissance of; scale, 

1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine. 
Seward Peninsula, southern portion of, topographic reconnaissance of; scale, 

1:250000; by T. G. Gerdine. 

In preparation. 

Water-supply investigations in Alaska, 1906 and 1907, by F. F. Henshaw and C. C. 

Covert. Water-Supply Paper No. 218, 1908, pp. 156. 
Geology of the area represented on the Nome and Grand Central Special maps, by 

F. H. Moffit, F. L. Hess, and P. S. Smith. 
Geology of the area represented on the Solomon and Casadepaga Special maps, by 

P. S. Smith. 
The Seward Peninsula tin deposits, by A. Knopf. 

NORTHERN ALASKA. 

A reconnaissance from Fort Hamlin to Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, by way of Dall, 
Kanuti, Allen, and Kowak rivers, by W. C. Mendenhall. Professional Paper 
No. 10, 1902, 68 pp. 

A reconnaissance in northern Alaska across the Rocky Mountains, along the Koyukuk, 
John, Anaktuvuk, and Colville rivers, and the Arctic coast to Cape Lisburne, in 
1901, by F. C. Schrader and W. J. Peters. Professional Paper No. 20, 1904, 139 pp. 
(Out of stock; can be purchased of Superintendent of Documents for 40 cents.) 

Coal fields of the Cape Lisburne region, by A. J. Collier. In Bulletin No. 259, 1905, 
pp. 172-185. 

Geology and coal resources of Cape Lisburne region, Alaska, by A. J. Collier. Bulle- 
tin No. 278, 1906, 54 pp. 

Topographic maps. 

Fort Yukon to Kotzebue Sound, reconnaissance map of; scale, 1:1200000; by D. L. 

Reaburn. Contained in Professional Paper No. 10. Not published separately. 
Koyukuk River to mouth of Colville River, including John River; scale, 1:1200000; 

by W. J. Peters. Contained in Professional Paper No. 20. (Out of stock.) Not 

published separately. 

o 

35283— irr— 218— 08 11 



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